Cast
John Ashton
Acting
Cast
John Ashton
Known for
Acting
Born
1948-02-22
From
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Died
2024-09-26
Also known as John David Ashton, جان اشتون
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.
Beverly Hills Cop
as Sgt. Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
as Chief John Taggart
Gone Baby Gone
as Nick Poole
Beverly Hills Cop II
as John Taggart
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
as Highway Patrolman
Midnight Run
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Instinct
as Guard Dacks
Curly Sue
as Frank Arnold
The Shooter
as Alex Reed
Some Kind of Wonderful
as Cliff Nelson
King Kong Lives
as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
Oh, God!
as Police Officer (uncredited)
Breaking Away
as Mike's Brother
She's Having a Baby
as Ken
BRATS
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Borderline
as Charlie Monroe
Middle Men
as Morgan
The Deliberate Stranger
as Det. Roger Dunn
Trapped in Paradise
as Ed Dawson
Little Big League
as Mac MacNally
Last Resort
as Phil Cocoran
Honky Tonk Freeway
as Otto Kemper
Psycho Sisters
as Brock
Meet the Deedles
as Capt. Douglas Pine
Fast Money
as Lt. Diego
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
as Ulysses S. Grant
I Want to Go Home
as Harry Dempsey
All Happy Families
as Roy Landry
Death in Texas
as Asher
Uncle John
as Uncle John
Reign of the Gargoyles
as Commander Latham
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
as Peter Bryant
Dirty Work
as Eddie Ryan
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
as Jake
Escape from Alaska
as Kemp
My Father's House
as Sergeant
Cat Murkil and the Silks
as Coach Larkin
For Which He Stands
as District Attorney
Lawman Without a Gun
as 1st State Trooper
Lonesome Soldier
as Macroberts
A Letter to Dad
as Mike Donahue
Making a Deal with the Devil
as FBI Director
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
as Judge Nathan Rivers
Condition Red
as Deputy Warden
An Eye for an Eye
as Sgt. Matthews
American Christmas
as Rob
The Joke Thief
as Joseph Rogers
The Last Big Save
as Joseph Bird Sr.
Once Upon a River
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
as Orville
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
as Cash Hunt
Bill's Gun Shop
as Bill Voight