
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.