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