Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
February 22, 1948
Place of Birth:
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Social Media
John Ashton
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
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F | Chief John Taggart |
| 2024 | All Happy Families | Roy Landry |
| 2024 | BRATS | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2023 | Lonesome Soldier | Macroberts |
| 2022 | Death in Texas | Asher |
| 2019 | Making a Deal with the Devil | FBI Director |
| 2019 | The Last Big Save | Joseph Bird Sr. |
| 2019 | Once Upon a River | |
| 2019 | American Christmas | Rob |
| 2018 | The Joke Thief | Joseph Rogers |
| 2015 | Uncle John | Uncle John |
| 2009 | Middle Men | Morgan |
| 2009 | A Letter to Dad | Mike Donahue |
| 2007 | Gone Baby Gone | Det. Nick Poole |
| 2007 | Reign of the Gargoyles | Commander Latham |
| 2001 | Bill's Gun Shop | Bill Voight |
| 1999 | Escape from Alaska | Kemp |
| 1999 | Instinct | Guard Dacks |
| 1998 | Meet the Deedles | Capt. Douglas Pine |
| 1998 | The Day Lincoln Was Shot | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 1997 | Little Girls in Pretty Boxes | Peter Bryant |
| 1996 | Fast Money | Lt. Diego |
| 1996 | For Which He Stands | District Attorney |
| 1995 | The Shooter | Alex Reed |
| 1995 | Condition Red | Deputy Warden |
| 1994 | Little Big League | Mac MacNally |
| 1994 | Trapped in Paradise | Ed Dawson |
| 1992 | Dirty Work | Eddie Ryan |
| 1991 | Curly Sue | Frank Arnold |
| 1989 | I Want to Go Home | Harry Dempsey |
| 1988 | Midnight Run | Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter |
| 1988 | She's Having a Baby | Ken |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | John Taggart |
| 1987 | Some Kind of Wonderful | Cliff Nelson |
| 1986 | King Kong Lives | Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger | Det. Roger Dunn |
| 1986 | Last Resort | Phil Cocoran |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Cop | Sgt. Taggart |
| 1984 | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension | Highway Patrolman |
| 1984 | Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link | Cash Hunt |
| 1981 | Elvis and the Beauty Queen | Jake |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Otto Kemper |
| 1980 | Borderline | Charlie Monroe |
| 1979 | Lawman Without a Gun | 1st State Trooper |
| 1979 | Breaking Away | Mike's Brother |
| 1978 | The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands | Orville |
| 1977 | Oh, God! | Police Officer (uncredited) |
| 1976 | Cat Murkil and the Silks | Coach Larkin |
| 1975 | My Father's House | Sergeant |
| 1974 | Psycho Sisters | Brock |
| 1973 | An Eye for an Eye | Sgt. Matthews |
| Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2 | Judge Nathan Rivers |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Finder | Franklin Sherman |
| 2011 | Fairly Legal | Lou Fisher |
| 1999 | Judging Amy | Dashiel Purdue |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Alan Fewkes |
| 1998 | Fantasy Island | Bobby |
| 1997 | King of the Hill | Instructor (voice) |
| 1995 | JAG | Brian Turque |
| 1993 | The Tommyknockers | Butch Duggan |
| 1992 | A Touch of Frost | |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | |
| 1989 | Hardball | Charlie Battles |
| 1989 | I Know My First Name Is Steven | Del Stayner |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger | Det. Roger Dunn |
| 1985 | A Death in California | Bob Swalwell |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon") |
| 1983 | The A-Team | Cactus Jack Slater |
| 1982 | Police Squad! | |
| 1978 | Dallas | Willie Joe Garr |
| 1977 | Code R | Karl |
| 1975 | Starsky & Hutch | |
| 1974 | Police Woman | |
| 1973 | Kojak | Cullen |
| 1973 | Police Story | |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H | |
| 1971 | Columbo | Calvin MacGruder |
| 1952 | Today | Self |