JA
John Ashton
Actor
Born February 22, 1948Died September 26, 2024 (76 years)
John David Ashton 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.
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
Filmography
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F · as Chief John Taggart |
| 2023 | All Happy Families · as Roy Landry |
| 2023 | Lonesome Soldier · as Macroberts |
| 2020 | Death in Texas · as Asher |
| 2019 | American Christmas · as Rob |
| 2019 | Making a Deal with the Devil · as Fbi Director |
| 2019 | The Last Big Save · as Joseph Bird Sr. |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | The Joke Thief · as Joseph Rogers |
| 2017 | The Neighborhood · as Matt Krivinsky |
| 2015 | Uncle John · as Uncle John |
| 2012 | The Finder (TV Series) · as Franklin Sherman |
| 2011 | Fairly Legal (TV Series) · as Lou Fisher |
| 2009 | Middle Men · as Morgan |
| 2008 | A Letter to Dad · as Mike Donahue |
| 2007 | Gone Baby Gone · as Det. Nick Poole |
| 2007 | Reign of the Gargoyles · as Commander Latham |
| 2005 | Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part · as Richie Parsons |
| 2003 | Family (2003) (TV Series) · as Martin |
| 2002 | Body & Soul (2002) (TV Series) · as Jordan Meadows |
| 2001 | Going to California (TV Series) · as Victor |
| 2001 | Bill's Gun Shop · as Bill Voight |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Alan Fewkes |
| 1999 | Judging Amy (TV Series) · as Dashiel Purdue |
| 1999 | Instinct · as Guard Dacks |
| 1998 | Fantasy Island (1998) (TV Series) · as Bobby |
| 1998 | The Day Lincoln Was Shot · as Ulysses S. Grant |
| 1998 | Meet the Deedles · as Capt. Douglas Pine |
| 1997 | Little Girls in Pretty Boxes · as Peter Bryant |
| 1997 | King of the Hill (TV Series) · as Instructor (voice) |
| 1996 | Fast Money · as Lt. Diego |
| 1996 | For Which He Stands · as District Attorney |
| 1995 | Hidden Assassin · as Alex Reed |
| 1995 | Condition Red · as Deputy Warden |
| 1995 | JAG (TV Series) · as Brian Turque |
| 1994 | In the Living Years · as Mike Donahue |
| 1994 | Trapped in Paradise · as Ed Dawson |
| 1994 | Little Big League · as Mac Macnally |
| 1993 | The Tommyknockers (TV Series) · as Butch Duggan |
| 1992 | A Touch of Frost (TV Series) |
| 1992 | Dirty Work · as Eddie Ryan |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) |
| 1991 | Curly Sue · as Frank Arnold |
| 1991 | Love, Lies and Murder (TV Series) · as Carrothers |
| 1989 | I Want to Go Home · as Harry Dempsey |
| 1989 | Hardball (1989) (TV Series) · as Charlie Battles |
| 1989 | I Know My First Name Is Steven (TV Series) · as Del Stayner |
| 1988 | Midnight Run · as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter |
| 1988 | She's Having a Baby · as Ken |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II · as John Taggart |
| 1987 | The Tracey Ullman Show (TV Series) · as Jimmy, Neighborly Doorman |
| 1987 | Some Kind of Wonderful · as Cliff Nelson |
| 1986 | King Kong Lives · as Lt. Col. R.t. Nevitt |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger · as Det. Roger Dunn |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger (TV Series) · as Det. Roger Dunn |
| 1986 | Last Resort · as Phil Cocoran |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone (1985) (TV Series) · as Chief Brady Simmons (segment "chameleon") |
| 1985 | A Death in California (TV Series) · as Bob Swalwell |
| 1985 | EastEnders (TV Series) · as Mr. Corby |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Cop · as Sgt. Taggart |
| 1984 | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension · as Highway Patrolman |
| 1984 | Brothers (TV Series) · as Agent Harris |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) · as Leonard Porter |
| 1983 | The A-Team (TV Series) · as Cactus Jack Slater |
| 1982 | Brookside (TV Series) · as Detective Sergeant Anderson |
| 1982 | Police Squad! (TV Series) |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway · as Otto Kemper |
| 1981 | Elvis and the Beauty Queen · as Jake |
| 1980 | Borderline · as Charlie Monroe |
| 1980 | Breaking Away (TV Series) · as Roy |
| 1979 | Breaking Away · as Mike's Brother |
| 1978 | Lawman Without a Gun · as 1st State Trooper |
| 1978 | Dallas (TV Series) · as Willie Joe Garr |
| 1977 | Oh, God! · as Police Officer (uncredited) |
| 1977 | Carter Country (TV Series) · as Guardsman #1 |
| 1977 | The Rhinemann Exchange (TV Series) · as Ballentyne |
| 1976 | Cat Murkil and the Silks · as Coach Larkin |
| 1975 | Wonder Woman (TV Series) · as Nazi Henchman |
| 1975 | Phyllis (TV Series) · as Taxpayer |
| 1975 | My Father's House · as Sergeant |
| 1975 | Starsky & Hutch (TV Series) |
| 1974 | So Evil, My Sister · as Brock |
| 1974 | Police Woman (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Kojak (TV Series) · as Cullen |
| 1973 | An Eye for an Eye · as Sgt. Matthews |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Barnaby Jones (TV Series) · as Lester Shiller |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H (TV Series) |
| 1972 | Emergency! (TV Series) · as Station Wagon Driver |
| 1971 | Columbo (TV Series) · as Calvin Macgruder |