John Ashton
Known for Acting · 78 credits
- Born
- 1948-02-22
- Died
- 2024-09-26
- Place of birth
- Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
- 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.
Known For
TV Shows (26)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Alan Fewkes
Columbo
1971
as Calvin MacGruder
JAG
1995
as Brian Turque
King of the Hill
1997
as Instructor (voice)
Dallas
1978
as Willie Joe Garr
The A-Team
1983
as Cactus Jack Slater
M*A*S*H
1972
Judging Amy
1999
as Dashiel Purdue
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Starsky & Hutch
1975
The Twilight Zone
1985
as Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
A Touch of Frost
1992
as Ridley
Kojak
1973
as Cullen
Police Story
1973
Today
1952
as Self
The Finder
2012
as Franklin Sherman
Fairly Legal
2011
as Lou Fisher
Fantasy Island
1998
as Bobby
Police Squad!
1982
Hardball
1989
as Charlie Battles
Code R
1977
as Karl
I Know My First Name Is Steven
1989
as Del Stayner
Love, Lies and Murder
1991
as Carrothers
The Tommyknockers
1993
as Butch Duggan
A Death in California
1985
as Bob Swalwell
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
as Det. Roger Dunn
Movies (52)
Beverly Hills Cop
1984
as Sgt. Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop II
1987
as John Taggart
The Shooter
1995
as Alex Reed
Gone Baby Gone
2007
as Nick Poole
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
2024
as Chief John Taggart
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
as Highway Patrolman
Midnight Run
1988
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Instinct
1999
as Guard Dacks
Some Kind of Wonderful
1987
as Cliff Nelson
Curly Sue
1991
as Frank Arnold
Oh, God!
1977
as Police Officer (uncredited)
King Kong Lives
1986
as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
Middle Men
2009
as Morgan
She's Having a Baby
1988
as Ken
Breaking Away
1979
as Mike's Brother
BRATS
2024
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Little Big League
1994
as Mac MacNally
Borderline
1980
as Charlie Monroe
Trapped in Paradise
1994
as Ed Dawson
Last Resort
1986
as Phil Cocoran
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
as Det. Roger Dunn
Meet the Deedles
1998
as Capt. Douglas Pine
I Want to Go Home
1989
as Harry Dempsey
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
1998
as Ulysses S. Grant
All Happy Families
2024
as Roy Landry
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Otto Kemper
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
1981
as Jake
Death in Texas
2022
as Asher
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
1997
as Peter Bryant
Psycho Sisters
1974
as Brock
Fast Money
1996
as Lt. Diego
Reign of the Gargoyles
2007
as Commander Latham
Lonesome Soldier
2023
as Macroberts
Uncle John
2015
as Uncle John
Cat Murkil and the Silks
1976
as Coach Larkin
Escape from Alaska
1999
as Kemp
Making a Deal with the Devil
2019
as FBI Director
American Christmas
2019
as Rob
Dirty Work
1992
as Eddie Ryan
Lawman Without a Gun
1979
as 1st State Trooper
A Letter to Dad
2009
as Mike Donahue
My Father's House
1975
as Sergeant
For Which He Stands
1996
as District Attorney
Condition Red
1995
as Deputy Warden
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
1984
as Cash Hunt
The Last Big Save
2019
as Joseph Bird Sr.
The Joke Thief
2018
as Joseph Rogers
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
as Judge Nathan Rivers
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
1978
as Orville
An Eye for an Eye
1973
as Sgt. Matthews
Once Upon a River
2019
Bill's Gun Shop
2001
as Bill Voight
About John Ashton
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 fi… With 78 credits spanning from 1952 to 2024, John Ashton has appeared in 52 films and 26 TV shows.
Fans searching for John Ashton movies, John Ashton filmography, or the latest projects starring John Ashton can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular John Ashton Movies
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984) — as Sgt. Taggart
- Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) — as John Taggart
- The Shooter (1995) — as Alex Reed
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) — as Nick Poole
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) — as Chief John Taggart
Where to Watch John Ashton Films
Most John Ashton movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring John Ashton, check our movies catalogue and browse page.