John Ashton

John Ashton

Acting
Born 1948-02-22 - Died 2024-09-26Springfield, 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.

Movies (52)

Beverly Hills Cop
7.2

Beverly Hills Cop

1984Movie7.2
Gone Baby Gone
7.3

Gone Baby Gone

2007Movie7.3
Beverly Hills Cop II
6.5

Beverly Hills Cop II

1987Movie6.5
Midnight Run
7.2

Midnight Run

1988Movie7.2
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
6.6

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

2024Movie6.6
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
6.0

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

1984Movie6.0
Some Kind of Wonderful
6.8

Some Kind of Wonderful

1987Movie6.8
Instinct
6.5

Instinct

1999Movie6.5
Middle Men
6.5

Middle Men

2009Movie6.5
King Kong Lives
5.2

King Kong Lives

1986Movie5.2
Curly Sue
6.4

Curly Sue

1991Movie6.4
Borderline
6.1

Borderline

1980Movie6.1
Breaking Away
7.2

Breaking Away

1979Movie7.2
BRATS
6.0

BRATS

2024Movie6.0
Honky Tonk Freeway
5.4

Honky Tonk Freeway

1981Movie5.4
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
6.8

The Day Lincoln Was Shot

1998Movie6.8
She's Having a Baby
5.9

She's Having a Baby

1988Movie5.9
The Shooter
4.8

The Shooter

1995Movie4.8
Trapped in Paradise
5.6

Trapped in Paradise

1994Movie5.6
Little Big League
5.9

Little Big League

1994Movie5.9
The Deliberate Stranger
6.3

The Deliberate Stranger

1986Movie6.3
Meet the Deedles
4.5

Meet the Deedles

1998Movie4.5
Death in Texas
5.2

Death in Texas

2022Movie5.2
Psycho Sisters
10.0

Psycho Sisters

1974Movie10.0
Oh, God!
6.4

Oh, God!

1977Movie6.4
Last Resort
3.6

Last Resort

1986Movie3.6
Lonesome Soldier
4.5

Lonesome Soldier

2023Movie4.5
Dirty Work
7.0

Dirty Work

1992Movie7.0
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

1978Movie
Cat Murkil and the Silks
5.3

Cat Murkil and the Silks

1976Movie5.3
For Which He Stands
6.5

For Which He Stands

1996Movie6.5
Escape from Alaska
4.7

Escape from Alaska

1999Movie4.7
I Want to Go Home
4.8

I Want to Go Home

1989Movie4.8
The Last Big Save
5.8

The Last Big Save

2019Movie5.8
An Eye for an Eye
5.6

An Eye for an Eye

1973Movie5.6
Condition Red
4.8

Condition Red

1995Movie4.8
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
3.9

Elvis and the Beauty Queen

1981Movie3.9
Uncle John
5.8

Uncle John

2015Movie5.8
My Father's House
9.0

My Father's House

1975Movie9.0
Fast Money
5.3

Fast Money

1996Movie5.3
All Happy Families
5.4

All Happy Families

2024Movie5.4
Reign of the Gargoyles
5.7

Reign of the Gargoyles

2007Movie5.7
Making a Deal with the Devil

Making a Deal with the Devil

2019Movie
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
5.5

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

1997Movie5.5
Lawman Without a Gun
9.0

Lawman Without a Gun

1979Movie9.0
Once Upon a River
6.5

Once Upon a River

2019Movie6.5
American Christmas
3.8

American Christmas

2019Movie3.8
The Joke Thief
5.8

The Joke Thief

2018Movie5.8
A Letter to Dad
5.8

A Letter to Dad

2009Movie5.8
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
9.0

Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

1984Movie9.0
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

Movie
Bill's Gun Shop
9.0

Bill's Gun Shop

2001Movie9.0

TV Shows (26)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999Series8.0
King of the Hill
7.4

King of the Hill

1997Series7.4
Dallas
6.9

Dallas

1978Series6.9
JAG
7.3

JAG

1995Series7.3
Columbo
8.1

Columbo

1971Series8.1
The A-Team
7.5

The A-Team

1983Series7.5
M*A*S*H
7.9

M*A*S*H

1972Series7.9
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
Judging Amy
7.5

Judging Amy

1999Series7.5
Starsky & Hutch
7.3

Starsky & Hutch

1975Series7.3
A Touch of Frost
7.6

A Touch of Frost

1992Series7.6
The Twilight Zone
7.7

The Twilight Zone

1985Series7.7
Today
5.6

Today

1952Series5.6
Kojak
7.2

Kojak

1973Series7.2
Police Story
7.0

Police Story

1973Series7.0
Fairly Legal
6.6

Fairly Legal

2011Series6.6
The Finder
7.1

The Finder

2012Series7.1
Fantasy Island
7.4

Fantasy Island

1998Series7.4
Police Squad!
7.9

Police Squad!

1982Series7.9
The Tommyknockers
5.5

The Tommyknockers

1993Series5.5
Love, Lies and Murder
4.9

Love, Lies and Murder

1991Series4.9
Code R
8.0

Code R

1977Series8.0
Hardball
7.0

Hardball

1989Series7.0
I Know My First Name Is Steven
6.7

I Know My First Name Is Steven

1989Series6.7
The Deliberate Stranger
7.0

The Deliberate Stranger

1986Series7.0
A Death in California
6.2

A Death in California

1985Series6.2