John Ashton

Birthday:
02/22/1948
Place of birth:
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA:
Biography:
John David Ashton (February 22, 1948 – September 26, 2024) was an American actor best known for his role as Sergeant John Taggart in the hit action-comedy films Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2025) where he played alongside Eddie Murphy. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ashton developed a passion for acting early in life, later attending the University of Southern California's School of Theatre. Beyond his iconic role in the Beverly Hills Cop series, Ashton appeared in a wide range of films and TV shows throughout his career. His notable film appearances include Midnight Run (1988) alongside Robert De Niro, where he portrayed a bounty hunter named Marvin Dorfler. On television, Ashton has made guest appearances on popular series such as Columbo, MASH, and The A-Team. Ashton's performances are often characterized by his ability to balance humor and toughness, making him a beloved character actor, especially in roles that highlight his everyman charm and strong screen presence.

Credits

All Happy Families (2024)
as Roy Landry
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
as Chief John Taggart
BRATS (2024)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lonesome Soldier (2023)
as Macroberts
Death in Texas (2022)
as Asher
American Christmas (2019)
as Rob
Making a Deal with the Devil (2019)
as FBI Director
The Last Big Save (2019)
as Joseph Bird Sr.
Once Upon a River (2019)
The Joke Thief (2018)
as Joseph Rogers
Uncle John (2015)
as Uncle John
A Letter to Dad (2009)
as Mike Donahue
Middle Men (2009)
as Morgan
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
as Nick Poole
Reign of the Gargoyles (2007)
as Commander Latham
Bill's Gun Shop (2001)
as Bill Voight
Escape from Alaska (1999)
as Kemp
Instinct (1999)
as Guard Dacks
The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998)
as Ulysses S. Grant
Meet the Deedles (1998)
as Capt. Douglas Pine
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes (1997)
as Peter Bryant
Fast Money (1996)
as Lt. Diego
For Which He Stands (1996)
as District Attorney
The Shooter (1995)
as Alex Reed
Condition Red (1995)
as Deputy Warden
Trapped in Paradise (1994)
as Ed Dawson
Little Big League (1994)
as Mac MacNally
Dirty Work (1992)
as Eddie Ryan
Curly Sue (1991)
as Frank Arnold
I Want to Go Home (1989)
as Harry Dempsey
Midnight Run (1988)
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
She's Having a Baby (1988)
as Ken
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
as John Taggart
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
as Cliff Nelson
King Kong Lives (1986)
as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
The Deliberate Stranger (1986)
as Det. Roger Dunn
Last Resort (1986)
as Phil Cocoran
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
as Sgt. Taggart
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
as Highway Patrolman
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link (1984)
as Cash Hunt
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
as Otto Kemper
Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981)
as Jake
Borderline (1980)
as Charlie Monroe
Lawman Without a Gun (1979)
as 1st State Trooper
Breaking Away (1979)
as Mike's Brother
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands (1978)
as Orville
Oh, God! (1977)
as Police Officer (uncredited)
Cat Murkil and the Silks (1976)
as Coach Larkin
My Father's House (1975)
as Sergeant
Psycho Sisters (1974)
as Brock
An Eye for an Eye (1973)
as Sgt. Matthews
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
as Judge Nathan Rivers

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