John Ashton
Acting
Born: 1948-02-22 in 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.
Known For
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alan Fewkes
Dallas
Willie Joe Garr
Columbo
Calvin MacGruder
King of the Hill
Instructor (voice)
JAG
Brian Turque
The A-Team
Cactus Jack Slater
M*A*S*H
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Judging Amy
Dashiel Purdue
A Touch of Frost
Ridley
The Twilight Zone
Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
Starsky & Hutch
Today
Self
Kojak
Cullen
Beverly Hills Cop
Sgt. Taggart
Fairly Legal
Lou Fisher
Police Story
The Finder
Franklin Sherman
Gone Baby Gone
Nick Poole
Midnight Run
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Beverly Hills Cop II
John Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Chief John Taggart
Instinct
Guard Dacks
Police Squad!
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Highway Patrolman
King Kong Lives
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
Fantasy Island
Bobby
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
The Tommyknockers
Butch Duggan
Middle Men
Morgan
Curly Sue
Frank Arnold
Hardball
Charlie Battles
Death in Texas
Asher
Code R
Karl
Some Kind of Wonderful
Cliff Nelson
The Shooter
Alex Reed
Love, Lies and Murder
Carrothers
She's Having a Baby
Ken
I Know My First Name Is Steven
Del Stayner
Breaking Away
Mike's Brother