John Ashton
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alan Fewkes
1999
Series
Columbo
Calvin MacGruder
1971
Series
JAG
Brian Turque
1995
Series
King of the Hill
Instructor (voice)
1997
Series
Dallas
Willie Joe Garr
1978
Series
The A-Team
Cactus Jack Slater
1983
Series
M*A*S*H
1972
Series
Judging Amy
Dashiel Purdue
1999
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Series
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Series
The Twilight Zone
Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
1985
Series
A Touch of Frost
Ridley
1992
Series
Kojak
Cullen
1973
Series
Police Story
1973
Series
Today
Self
1952
Series
The Finder
Franklin Sherman
2012
Series
Fairly Legal
Lou Fisher
2011
Film
Beverly Hills Cop
Sgt. Taggart
1984
Series
Fantasy Island
Bobby
1998
Series
Police Squad!
1982
Film
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Chief John Taggart
2024
Film
Beverly Hills Cop II
John Taggart
1987
Series
Code R
Karl
1977
Series
Hardball
Charlie Battles
1989
Film
Gone Baby Gone
Nick Poole
2007
Film
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Highway Patrolman
1984
Series
I Know My First Name Is Steven
Del Stayner
1989
Film
Midnight Run
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
1988
Film
Instinct
Guard Dacks
1999
Series
The Tommyknockers
Butch Duggan
1993
Film
Some Kind of Wonderful
Cliff Nelson
1987
Film
Curly Sue
Frank Arnold
1991
Film
King Kong Lives
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
1986
Film
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
Series
Love, Lies and Murder
Carrothers
1991
Film
The Shooter
Alex Reed
1995
Film
Breaking Away
Mike's Brother
1979
Film
She's Having a Baby
Ken
1988
Film
Middle Men
Morgan
2009
Film
Borderline
Charlie Monroe
1980
Film
Oh, God!
Police Officer (uncredited)
1977
Film
Little Big League
Mac MacNally
1994
Film
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
1986
Series
A Death in California
Bob Swalwell
1985
Film
Trapped in Paradise
Ed Dawson
1994
Film
Last Resort
Phil Cocoran
1986
Series
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
1986
Film
Honky Tonk Freeway
Otto Kemper
1981
Film
Death in Texas
Asher
2022
Film
Meet the Deedles
Capt. Douglas Pine
1998
Film
Uncle John
Uncle John
2015
Film
Reign of the Gargoyles
Commander Latham
2007
Film
Dirty Work
Eddie Ryan
1992
Film
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Ulysses S. Grant
1998
Film
Fast Money
Lt. Diego
1996
Film
Psycho Sisters
Brock
1974
Film
All Happy Families
Roy Landry
2024
Film
Escape from Alaska
Kemp
1999
Film
I Want to Go Home
Harry Dempsey
1989
Film
For Which He Stands
District Attorney
1996
Film
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Jake
1981
Film
An Eye for an Eye
Sgt. Matthews
1973
Film
My Father's House
Sergeant
1975
Film
Making a Deal with the Devil
FBI Director
2019
Film
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
Judge Nathan Rivers
Film
Lonesome Soldier
Macroberts
2023
Film
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Peter Bryant
1997
Film
Once Upon a River
2019
Film
Cat Murkil and the Silks
Coach Larkin
1976
Film
Lawman Without a Gun
1st State Trooper
1979
Film
The Joke Thief
Joseph Rogers
2018
Film
American Christmas
Rob
2019
Film
The Last Big Save
Joseph Bird Sr.
2019
Film
A Letter to Dad
Mike Donahue
2009
Film
Condition Red
Deputy Warden
1995
Film
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
Cash Hunt
1984
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
Orville
1978
Film
Bill's Gun Shop
Bill Voight
2001