Actor
John Ashton
February 22, 1948 · Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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.
Notable work
7.2Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
as Sgt. Taggart
8Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
as Alan Fewkes
7.3Gone Baby Gone (2007)
as Nick Poole
6.5Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
as John Taggart
6.6Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
as Chief John Taggart
7.2Midnight Run (1988)
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
7.5The A-Team (1983)
as Cactus Jack Slater
8.1Columbo (1971)
as Calvin MacGruder
7.9M*A*S*H (1972)
cast
7.4King of the Hill (1997)
as Instructor (voice)
6.5Instinct (1999)
as Guard Dacks
6.4Curly Sue (1991)
as Frank Arnold
Film and television data provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.