John Ashton
Known for
John Ashton is a screen veteran of the old school who has been at it long enough for audiences to grow up watching him. Viewers may also know him from 'Gone Baby Gone'. The count stands at 57 titles, and the range inside it is wide. 'Beverly Hills Cop' is the title most people reach for first, with Sgt. Taggart at the center of it.
John Ashton
39 Movies
18 Series
John Ashton is a screen veteran of the old school who has been at it long enough for audiences to grow up watching him. Viewers may also know him from 'Gone Baby Gone'. The count stands at 57 titles, and the range inside it is wide. 'Beverly Hills Cop' is the title most people reach for first, with Sgt. Taggart at the center of it.
Movies
Plays John Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop II
1987
Plays Sgt. Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop
1984
Plays Chief John Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
2024
Plays Guard Dacks
Instinct
1999
Plays Nick Poole
Gone Baby Gone
2007
Plays Morgan
Middle Men
2009
Plays Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Midnight Run
1988
Plays Highway Patrolman
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
Plays Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
King Kong Lives
1986
Plays Frank Arnold
Curly Sue
1991
Plays Cliff Nelson
Some Kind of Wonderful
1987
Plays Ed Dawson
Trapped in Paradise
1994
Plays Mike's Brother
Breaking Away
1979
Plays Charlie Monroe
Borderline
1980
Plays Ken
She's Having a Baby
1988
Plays Mac MacNally
Little Big League
1994
Plays Roy Landry
All Happy Families
2024
Plays Asher
Death in Texas
2022
Plays Capt. Douglas Pine
Meet the Deedles
1998
Plays Alex Reed
The Shooter
1995
Plays Harry Dempsey
I Want to Go Home
1989
Plays Commander Latham
Reign of the Gargoyles
2007
Plays Macroberts
Lonesome Soldier
2023
Plays Deputy Warden
Condition Red
1995
Plays Otto Kemper
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
Plays Phil Cocoran
Last Resort
1986
Plays Joseph Rogers
The Joke Thief
2018
Plays Uncle John
Uncle John
2015
Plays Joseph Bird Sr.
The Last Big Save
2019
Plays Coach Larkin
Cat Murkil and the Silks
1976
Plays Sgt. Matthews
An Eye for an Eye
1973
Plays Kemp
Escape from Alaska
1999
Plays Mike Donahue
A Letter to Dad
2009
Plays Lt. Diego
Fast Money
1996
TV Shows
Plays Charlie Battles
Hardball
1989
Plays Willie Joe Garr
Dallas
1978
Plays Del Stayner
I Know My First Name Is Steven
1989
Plays Bob Swalwell
A Death in California
1985
Plays Butch Duggan
The Tommyknockers
1993
Plays Det. Roger Dunn
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
Plays Carrothers
Love, Lies and Murder
1991
Plays Brian Turque
JAG
1995
Plays Franklin Sherman
The Finder
2012
Plays Lou Fisher
Fairly Legal
2011
Plays Karl
Code R
1977
Plays Dashiel Purdue
Judging Amy
1999
Plays Ridley
A Touch of Frost
1992
Plays Cullen
Kojak
1973
Plays Calvin MacGruder
Columbo
1971
Plays Instructor (voice)
King of the Hill
1997
Plays Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
The Twilight Zone
1985
Plays Bobby
Fantasy Island
1998
Plays Cactus Jack Slater
The A-Team
1983
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
All Happy Families
Full Filmography
All Happy Families
Roy Landry
2024
Film
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Chief John Taggart
2024
Film
Lonesome Soldier
Macroberts
2023
Film
Death in Texas
Asher
2022
Film
Making a Deal with the Devil
FBI Director
2019
Film
The Last Big Save
Joseph Bird Sr.
2019
Film
The Joke Thief
Joseph Rogers
2018
Film
Uncle John
Uncle John
2015
Film
The Finder
Franklin Sherman · 1 episode
2012–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is John Ashton still alive?
John Ashton passed away on September 26, 2024 at age 76.
What are the most famous roles of John Ashton?
John Ashton is best known for roles in Beverly Hills Cop, Gone Baby Gone, Beverly Hills Cop II.
How many movies has John Ashton been in?
Over a 51-year career (since 1973), John Ashton has appeared in 39 movies and 18 TV shows.
What was John Ashton's first movie?
The career of John Ashton began with An Eye for an Eye (1973).
What is John Ashton's most recent movie or series?
John Ashton's most recent release is All Happy Families, which premiered on September 20, 2024.
What TV shows has John Ashton appeared in?
On television, John Ashton has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The A-Team, Columbo, M*A*S*H.
John Ashton
1948-02-22 · Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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.