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
M*A*S*H
1972
The A-Team
1983
as Cactus Jack Slater
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
The Tommyknockers
1993
as Butch Duggan
Love, Lies and Murder
1991
as Carrothers
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
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
2024
as Chief John Taggart
Gone Baby Gone
2007
as Nick Poole
Midnight Run
1988
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
as Highway Patrolman
Instinct
1999
as Guard Dacks
Curly Sue
1991
as Frank Arnold
Some Kind of Wonderful
1987
as Cliff Nelson
King Kong Lives
1986
as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
The Shooter
1995
as Alex Reed
Breaking Away
1979
as Mike's Brother
Borderline
1980
as Charlie Monroe
She's Having a Baby
1988
as Ken
Oh, God!
1977
as Police Officer (uncredited)
Middle Men
2009
as Morgan
BRATS
2024
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Little Big League
1994
as Mac MacNally
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
as Det. Roger Dunn
Trapped in Paradise
1994
as Ed Dawson
Last Resort
1986
as Phil Cocoran
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Otto Kemper
Uncle John
2015
as Uncle John
Fast Money
1996
as Lt. Diego
Meet the Deedles
1998
as Capt. Douglas Pine
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
1998
as Ulysses S. Grant
Psycho Sisters
1974
as Brock
Death in Texas
2022
as Asher
All Happy Families
2024
as Roy Landry
Dirty Work
1992
as Eddie Ryan
Reign of the Gargoyles
2007
as Commander Latham
I Want to Go Home
1989
as Harry Dempsey
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
1981
as Jake
Escape from Alaska
1999
as Kemp
My Father's House
1975
as Sergeant
Cat Murkil and the Silks
1976
as Coach Larkin
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
1997
as Peter Bryant
For Which He Stands
1996
as District Attorney
Making a Deal with the Devil
2019
as FBI Director
Lawman Without a Gun
1979
as 1st State Trooper
A Letter to Dad
2009
as Mike Donahue
Lonesome Soldier
2023
as Macroberts
The Last Big Save
2019
as Joseph Bird Sr.
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
as Judge Nathan Rivers
American Christmas
2019
as Rob
An Eye for an Eye
1973
as Sgt. Matthews
The Joke Thief
2018
as Joseph Rogers
Condition Red
1995
as Deputy Warden
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
1978
as Orville
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
1984
as Cash Hunt
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 CineFlixo, 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
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) — as Chief John Taggart
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) — as Nick Poole
- Midnight Run (1988) — as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Where to Watch John Ashton Films
Most John Ashton movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.