John Ashton in ‘Midnight Run’, Photo: Universal Pictures.
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- Actor John Ashton has died aged 76.
- He was most famous for portraying Sergeant Taggart in the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ franchise.
- Ashton was remembered by his family as “a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather.”
John Ashton, an actor who became a firm favorite in the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ franchise thanks to his role as the gruff, often frustrated Sergeant Taggart, has died. He was 76 and had been dealing with cancer.
A statement from his representative paid tribute to him:
“John was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service. His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, as well as his brother, sisters, his extended family and all who loved him. John’s impact on the world will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”
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John Ashton: Early Life and Career
(L to R) Judge Reinhold, Eddie Murphy and John Ashton attend the ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ World Premiere at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on June 20, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for Netflix.
Born February 22nd, 1948, in Springfield, Massachusetts and raised in Enfield, Connecticut, Ashton attended Defiance College in Ohio before transferring to University of Southern California, where he graduated with a BA in theater arts.
Ashton’s work became marked 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.
John Ashton’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Legacy
(L to R) Judge Reinhold, John Ashton and Eddie Murphy in ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Ashton landed the role of Sergeant John Taggart, who, alongside Judge Reinhold’s Detective Billy Rosewood, was part of the detail assigned to monitor the newly arrived Detroit officer Axel Foley, played the career-skyrocketing effect by Eddie Murphy in 1984.
Despite the differences in law enforcement style (and Foley initially messing with Taggart and Rosewood), the three eventually became friends.
Ashton’s Taggart was seen again in 1987’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop II,’ but skipped ‘Beverly Hills Cop III,’ described by Rosewood as retired.
He returned for this year’s legacy sequel ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,’ where he’d been promoted to chief
“He’s been chased, thrown through a window and arrested. Eddie Murphy is a Detroit cop on vacation in Beverly Hills.”
72
1 hr 45 minDec 5th, 1984
John Ashton: Movie Roles
John Ashton in ‘Uncle John’, Photo: Filmbuff.
Though his contributions to the Axel Foley movies is what he’ll best be remembered for, Ashton’s acting career spanned more than 50 years. His early film credits include ‘An Eye for an Eye,’ ‘So Evil, My Sister,’ ‘Cat Murkil and the Silks,’ ‘Breaking Away,’ ‘Borderline,’ and ‘Honky Tonk Freeway.’
More notable roles included ‘Midnight Run,’ ‘Some Kind of Wonderful,’ She’s Having a Baby,’ ‘Uncle John’ and ‘The Neighborhood.’
“This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
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2 hr 6 minJul 20th, 1988
John Ashton: TV work
(L to R) John Ashton and Rishard Tyson in the 1989 TV series ‘Hardball’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Ashton was a guest star on many TV series, including ‘Emergency!,’ ‘Columbo,’ ‘Police Story,’ ‘Barnaby Jones,’ ‘Police Woman,’ ‘MASH,’ ‘Starsky and Hutch’, ‘Dallas‘ and ‘Hardball‘.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye; children Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton; step-children Courtney Donovan, Lindsay Curcio and Ashley Hoye; grandson Henry; sisters Sharon Ann Ashton and Linda Jean Ashton; and brother Edward Richard Ashton.
Hardball is an American crime drama television series that ran on NBC during the 1989-1990 television schedule. Read the Plot
(L to R) Eddie Murphy, John Ashton, and Judge Reinhold in ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
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