John Ashton

John Ashton

Birthday: February 22, 1948 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Deathday: September 26, 2024
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.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Movie | 2024
Chief John Taggart
All Happy Families

All Happy Families

Movie | 2024
Roy Landry
BRATS

BRATS

Movie | 2024
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lonesome Soldier

Lonesome Soldier

Movie | 2023
Macroberts
Death in Texas

Death in Texas

Movie | 2022
Asher
Making a Deal with the Devil

Making a Deal with the Devil

Movie | 2019
FBI Director
The Last Big Save

The Last Big Save

Movie | 2019
Joseph Bird Sr.
Once Upon a River

Once Upon a River

Movie | 2019
American Christmas

American Christmas

Movie | 2019
Rob
The Joke Thief

The Joke Thief

Movie | 2018
Joseph Rogers
Uncle John

Uncle John

Movie | 2015
Uncle John
The Finder

The Finder

TV | 2012
Franklin Sherman
One Episode
Fairly Legal

Fairly Legal

TV | 2011
Lou Fisher
One Episode
Middle Men

Middle Men

Movie | 2009
Morgan
A Letter to Dad

A Letter to Dad

Movie | 2009
Mike Donahue
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

TV | 2009
Alan Fewkes
One Episode
Today

Today

TV | 2008
Self
One Episode
Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone

Movie | 2007
Det. Nick Poole
Reign of the Gargoyles

Reign of the Gargoyles

Movie | 2007
Commander Latham
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

TV | 2002
One Episode
Judging Amy

Judging Amy

TV | 2001
Dashiel Purdue
One Episode
A Touch of Frost

A Touch of Frost

TV | 2001
One Episode
Escape from Alaska

Escape from Alaska

Movie | 1999
Kemp
Instinct

Instinct

Movie | 1999
Guard Dacks
Fantasy Island

Fantasy Island

TV | 1999
Bobby
One Episode
Meet the Deedles

Meet the Deedles

Movie | 1998
Capt. Douglas Pine
The Day Lincoln Was Shot

The Day Lincoln Was Shot

Movie | 1998
Ulysses S. Grant
King of the Hill

King of the Hill

TV | 1998
Instructor (voice)
One Episode
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Movie | 1997
Peter Bryant
Fast Money

Fast Money

Movie | 1996
Lt. Diego
For Which He Stands

For Which He Stands

Movie | 1996
District Attorney
JAG

JAG

TV | 1996
Brian Turque
2 Episodes
The Shooter

The Shooter

Movie | 1995
Alex Reed
Condition Red

Condition Red

Movie | 1995
Deputy Warden
Little Big League

Little Big League

Movie | 1994
Mac MacNally
Trapped in Paradise

Trapped in Paradise

Movie | 1994
Ed Dawson
The Tommyknockers

The Tommyknockers

TV | 1993
Butch Duggan
2 Episodes
Dirty Work

Dirty Work

Movie | 1992
Eddie Ryan
Curly Sue

Curly Sue

Movie | 1991
Frank Arnold
I Want to Go Home

I Want to Go Home

Movie | 1989
Harry Dempsey
Hardball

Hardball

TV | 1989
Charlie Battles
18 Episodes
I Know My First Name Is Steven

I Know My First Name Is Steven

TV | 1989
Del Stayner
2 Episodes
Midnight Run

Midnight Run

Movie | 1988
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
She's Having a Baby

She's Having a Baby

Movie | 1988
Ken
Beverly Hills Cop II

Beverly Hills Cop II

Movie | 1987
John Taggart
Some Kind of Wonderful

Some Kind of Wonderful

Movie | 1987
Cliff Nelson
King Kong Lives

King Kong Lives

Movie | 1986
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
The Deliberate Stranger

The Deliberate Stranger

Movie | 1986
Det. Roger Dunn
Last Resort

Last Resort

Movie | 1986
Phil Cocoran
The Deliberate Stranger

The Deliberate Stranger

TV | 1986
Det. Roger Dunn
2 Episodes
A Death in California

A Death in California

TV | 1985
Bob Swalwell
2 Episodes
The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

TV | 1985
Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
One Episode
The A-Team

The A-Team

TV | 1985
Cactus Jack Slater
One Episode
Beverly Hills Cop

Beverly Hills Cop

Movie | 1984
Sgt. Taggart
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Movie | 1984
Highway Patrolman
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

Movie | 1984
Cash Hunt
Police Squad!

Police Squad!

TV | 1982
One Episode
Elvis and the Beauty Queen

Elvis and the Beauty Queen

Movie | 1981
Jake
Honky Tonk Freeway

Honky Tonk Freeway

Movie | 1981
Otto Kemper
Borderline

Borderline

Movie | 1980
Charlie Monroe
Lawman Without a Gun

Lawman Without a Gun

Movie | 1979
1st State Trooper
Breaking Away

Breaking Away

Movie | 1979
Mike's Brother
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

Movie | 1978
Orville
Dallas

Dallas

TV | 1978
Willie Joe Garr
6 Episodes
Oh, God!

Oh, God!

Movie | 1977
Police Officer (uncredited)
M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

TV | 1977
One Episode
Starsky & Hutch

Starsky & Hutch

TV | 1977
2 Episodes
Police Woman

Police Woman

TV | 1977
One Episode
Code R

Code R

TV | 1977
Karl
One Episode
Cat Murkil and the Silks

Cat Murkil and the Silks

Movie | 1976
Coach Larkin
Police Story

Police Story

TV | 1976
One Episode
My Father's House

My Father's House

Movie | 1975
Sergeant
Psycho Sisters

Psycho Sisters

Movie | 1974
Brock
Kojak

Kojak

TV | 1974
Cullen
One Episode
Columbo

Columbo

TV | 1974
Calvin MacGruder
One Episode
An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

Movie | 1973
Sgt. Matthews
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

Movie
Judge Nathan Rivers
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Movie | 2024
Chief John Taggart
All Happy Families

All Happy Families

Movie | 2024
Roy Landry
BRATS

BRATS

Movie | 2024
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lonesome Soldier

Lonesome Soldier

Movie | 2023
Macroberts
Death in Texas

Death in Texas

Movie | 2022
Asher
Making a Deal with the Devil

Making a Deal with the Devil

Movie | 2019
FBI Director
The Last Big Save

The Last Big Save

Movie | 2019
Joseph Bird Sr.
Once Upon a River

Once Upon a River

Movie | 2019
American Christmas

American Christmas

Movie | 2019
Rob
The Joke Thief

The Joke Thief

Movie | 2018
Joseph Rogers
Uncle John

Uncle John

Movie | 2015
Uncle John
Middle Men

Middle Men

Movie | 2009
Morgan
A Letter to Dad

A Letter to Dad

Movie | 2009
Mike Donahue
Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone

Movie | 2007
Det. Nick Poole
Reign of the Gargoyles

Reign of the Gargoyles

Movie | 2007
Commander Latham
Escape from Alaska

Escape from Alaska

Movie | 1999
Kemp
Instinct

Instinct

Movie | 1999
Guard Dacks
Meet the Deedles

Meet the Deedles

Movie | 1998
Capt. Douglas Pine
The Day Lincoln Was Shot

The Day Lincoln Was Shot

Movie | 1998
Ulysses S. Grant
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Movie | 1997
Peter Bryant
Fast Money

Fast Money

Movie | 1996
Lt. Diego
For Which He Stands

For Which He Stands

Movie | 1996
District Attorney
The Shooter

The Shooter

Movie | 1995
Alex Reed
Condition Red

Condition Red

Movie | 1995
Deputy Warden
Little Big League

Little Big League

Movie | 1994
Mac MacNally
Trapped in Paradise

Trapped in Paradise

Movie | 1994
Ed Dawson
Dirty Work

Dirty Work

Movie | 1992
Eddie Ryan
Curly Sue

Curly Sue

Movie | 1991
Frank Arnold
I Want to Go Home

I Want to Go Home

Movie | 1989
Harry Dempsey
Midnight Run

Midnight Run

Movie | 1988
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
She's Having a Baby

She's Having a Baby

Movie | 1988
Ken
Beverly Hills Cop II

Beverly Hills Cop II

Movie | 1987
John Taggart
Some Kind of Wonderful

Some Kind of Wonderful

Movie | 1987
Cliff Nelson
King Kong Lives

King Kong Lives

Movie | 1986
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
The Deliberate Stranger

The Deliberate Stranger

Movie | 1986
Det. Roger Dunn
Last Resort

Last Resort

Movie | 1986
Phil Cocoran
Beverly Hills Cop

Beverly Hills Cop

Movie | 1984
Sgt. Taggart
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Movie | 1984
Highway Patrolman
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

Movie | 1984
Cash Hunt
Elvis and the Beauty Queen

Elvis and the Beauty Queen

Movie | 1981
Jake
Honky Tonk Freeway

Honky Tonk Freeway

Movie | 1981
Otto Kemper
Borderline

Borderline

Movie | 1980
Charlie Monroe
Lawman Without a Gun

Lawman Without a Gun

Movie | 1979
1st State Trooper
Breaking Away

Breaking Away

Movie | 1979
Mike's Brother
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

Movie | 1978
Orville
Oh, God!

Oh, God!

Movie | 1977
Police Officer (uncredited)
Cat Murkil and the Silks

Cat Murkil and the Silks

Movie | 1976
Coach Larkin
My Father's House

My Father's House

Movie | 1975
Sergeant
Psycho Sisters

Psycho Sisters

Movie | 1974
Brock
An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

Movie | 1973
Sgt. Matthews
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

Movie
Judge Nathan Rivers