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
King of the Hill
1997
as Instructor (voice)
Columbo
1971
as Calvin MacGruder
Dallas
1978
as Willie Joe Garr
JAG
1995
as Brian Turque
The A-Team
1983
as Cactus Jack Slater
M*A*S*H
1972
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Judging Amy
1999
as Dashiel Purdue
A Touch of Frost
1992
as Ridley
Today
1952
as Self
The Twilight Zone
1985
as Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Kojak
1973
as Cullen
Police Story
1973
The Finder
2012
as Franklin Sherman
Fairly Legal
2011
as Lou Fisher
Fantasy Island
1998
as Bobby
Police Squad!
1982
The Tommyknockers
1993
as Butch Duggan
I Know My First Name Is Steven
1989
as Del Stayner
Code R
1977
as Karl
Hardball
1989
as Charlie Battles
Love, Lies and Murder
1991
as Carrothers
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
as Det. Roger Dunn
A Death in California
1985
as Bob Swalwell
Movies (52)
Beverly Hills Cop
1984
as Sgt. Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
2024
as Chief John Taggart
Instinct
1999
as Guard Dacks
Gone Baby Gone
2007
as Nick Poole
Beverly Hills Cop II
1987
as John Taggart
King Kong Lives
1986
as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
as Highway Patrolman
Some Kind of Wonderful
1987
as Cliff Nelson
Midnight Run
1988
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Curly Sue
1991
as Frank Arnold
She's Having a Baby
1988
as Ken
Middle Men
2009
as Morgan
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
as Det. Roger Dunn
Psycho Sisters
1974
as Brock
Borderline
1980
as Charlie Monroe
Trapped in Paradise
1994
as Ed Dawson
Little Big League
1994
as Mac MacNally
BRATS
2024
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Death in Texas
2022
as Asher
Breaking Away
1979
as Mike's Brother
For Which He Stands
1996
as District Attorney
Meet the Deedles
1998
as Capt. Douglas Pine
Lawman Without a Gun
1979
as 1st State Trooper
Last Resort
1986
as Phil Cocoran
Lonesome Soldier
2023
as Macroberts
Cat Murkil and the Silks
1976
as Coach Larkin
The Shooter
1995
as Alex Reed
Oh, God!
1977
as Police Officer (uncredited)
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
1997
as Peter Bryant
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
1998
as Ulysses S. Grant
Condition Red
1995
as Deputy Warden
Uncle John
2015
as Uncle John
The Last Big Save
2019
as Joseph Bird Sr.
An Eye for an Eye
1973
as Sgt. Matthews
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Otto Kemper
My Father's House
1975
as Sergeant
A Letter to Dad
2009
as Mike Donahue
Escape from Alaska
1999
as Kemp
All Happy Families
2024
as Roy Landry
Dirty Work
1992
as Eddie Ryan
American Christmas
2019
as Rob
I Want to Go Home
1989
as Harry Dempsey
Fast Money
1996
as Lt. Diego
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
1981
as Jake
Reign of the Gargoyles
2007
as Commander Latham
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
as Judge Nathan Rivers
The Joke Thief
2018
as Joseph Rogers
Bill's Gun Shop
2001
as Bill Voight
Making a Deal with the Devil
2019
as FBI Director
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
1984
as Cash Hunt
Once Upon a River
2019
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
1978
as Orville
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: Axel F (2024) — as Chief John Taggart
- Instinct (1999) — as Guard Dacks
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) — as Nick Poole
- Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) — as 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.