About
John Ashton
Overview
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) and Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), 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
Acting |
||||
| 2024 | All Happy Families | Actor | 59 Average |
|
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F | Actor | Chief John Taggart | 65 Fair |
| 2024 | BRATS | Actor | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 59 Average |
| 2023 | Lonesome Soldier | Actor | Macroberts | 59 Average |
| 2022 | Death in Texas | Actor | Asher | 58 Average |
| 2019 | American Christmas | Actor | Rob | 59 Average |
| 2019 | Making a Deal with the Devil | Actor | FBI Director | N/A N/A |
| 2019 | The Last Big Save | Actor | Joseph Bird Sr. | 59 Average |
| 2019 | Once Upon a River | Actor | 58 Average |
|
| 2018 | The Joke Thief | Actor | Joseph Rogers | 58 Average |
| 2015 | Uncle John | Actor | Uncle John | 58 Average |
| 2009 | A Letter to Dad | Actor | Mike Donahue | 59 Average |
| 2009 | Middle Men | Actor | Morgan | 61 Fair |
| 2007 | Gone Baby Gone | Actor | Det. Nick Poole | 71 Good |
| 2007 | Reign of the Gargoyles | Actor | Commander Latham | 58 Average |
| 1999 | Escape from Alaska | Actor | Kemp | 58 Average |
| 1999 | Instinct | Actor | Guard Dacks | 61 Fair |
| 1998 | The Day Lincoln Was Shot | Actor | Ulysses S. Grant | 59 Average |
| 1998 | Meet the Deedles | Actor | Capt. Douglas Pine | 57 Average |
| 1997 | Little Girls in Pretty Boxes | Actor | Peter Bryant | 58 Average |
| 1996 | Fast Money | Actor | Lt. Diego | 58 Average |
| 1996 | For Which He Stands | Actor | District Attorney | 59 Average |
| 1995 | The Shooter | Actor | Alex Reed | 57 Average |
| 1995 | Condition Red | Actor | Deputy Warden | 58 Average |
| 1994 | Trapped in Paradise | Actor | Ed Dawson | 58 Average |
| 1994 | Little Big League | Actor | Mac MacNally | 58 Average |
| 1993 | The Tommyknockers | Actor | Butch Duggan | 59 Average |
| 1992 | Dirty Work | Actor | Eddie Ryan | N/A N/A |
| 1991 | Curly Sue | Actor | Frank Arnold | 61 Fair |
| 1989 | I Want to Go Home | Actor | Harry Dempsey | 58 Average |
| 1989 | Hardball | Actor | Charlie Battles | 69 Fair |
| 1989 | I Know My First Name Is Steven | Actor | Del Stayner | 68 Fair |
| 1988 | Midnight Run | Actor | Marvin Dorfler | 67 Fair |
| 1988 | She's Having a Baby | Actor | Ken | 59 Average |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | Actor | John Taggart | 63 Fair |
| 1987 | Some Kind of Wonderful | Actor | Cliff Nelson | 63 Fair |
| 1986 | King Kong Lives | Actor | Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt | 56 Average |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger | Actor | Det. Roger Dunn | 59 Average |
| 1986 | Last Resort | Actor | Phil Cocoran | 58 Average |
| 1985 | A Death in California | Actor | Bob Swalwell | 68 Fair |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Cop | Actor | Sgt. Taggart | 70 Good |
| 1984 | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension | Actor | Highway Patrolman | 59 Average |
| 1984 | Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link | Actor | Cash Hunt | N/A N/A |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Actor | Otto Kemper | 58 Average |
| 1981 | Elvis and the Beauty Queen | Actor | Jake | 58 Average |
| 1980 | Borderline | Actor | Charlie Monroe | 59 Average |
| 1979 | Lawman Without a Gun | Actor | 1st State Trooper | N/A N/A |
| 1979 | Breaking Away | Actor | Mike's Brother | 62 Fair |
| 1978 | The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands | Actor | Orville | N/A N/A |
| 1977 | Oh, God! | Actor | Police Officer (uncredited) | 60 Fair |
| 1976 | Cat Murkil and the Silks | Actor | Coach Larkin | 58 Average |
| 1975 | My Father's House | Actor | Sergeant | N/A N/A |
| 1974 | Psycho Sisters | Actor | Brock | N/A N/A |
| 1973 | An Eye for an Eye | Actor | Sgt. Matthews | 58 Average |