Known For
Acting
Known Credits
78
Gender
Male
Birthday
February 22, 1948 (78 years old)
Place of Birth
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.
| 2024 | All Happy Familiesas Roy Landry | |
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Fas Chief John Taggart | |
| 2024 | BRATSas Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 2023 | Lonesome Soldieras Macroberts | |
| 2022 | Death in Texasas Asher | |
| 2019 | American Christmasas Rob | |
| 2019 | Making a Deal with the Devilas FBI Director | |
| 2019 | The Last Big Saveas Joseph Bird Sr. | |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Riveras | |
| 2018 | The Joke Thiefas Joseph Rogers | |
| 2015 | Uncle Johnas Uncle John | |
| 2012 | The Finderas Franklin Sherman | |
| 2011 | Fairly Legalas Lou Fisher | |
| 2009 | A Letter to Dadas Mike Donahue | |
| 2009 | Middle Menas Morgan | |
| 2007 | Gone Baby Goneas Nick Poole | |
| 2007 | Reign of the Gargoylesas Commander Latham | |
| 2001 | Bill's Gun Shopas Bill Voight | |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unitas Alan Fewkes | |
| 1999 | Judging Amyas Dashiel Purdue | |
| 1999 | Escape from Alaskaas Kemp | |
| 1999 | Instinctas Guard Dacks | |
| 1998 | Fantasy Islandas Bobby | |
| 1998 | The Day Lincoln Was Shotas Ulysses S. Grant | |
| 1998 | Meet the Deedlesas Capt. Douglas Pine | |
| 1997 | Little Girls in Pretty Boxesas Peter Bryant | |
| 1997 | King of the Hillas Instructor (voice) | |
| 1996 | Fast Moneyas Lt. Diego | |
| 1996 | For Which He Standsas District Attorney | |
| 1995 | The Shooteras Alex Reed | |
| 1995 | Condition Redas Deputy Warden | |
| 1995 | JAGas Brian Turque | |
| 1994 | Trapped in Paradiseas Ed Dawson | |
| 1994 | Little Big Leagueas Mac MacNally | |
| 1993 | The Tommyknockersas Butch Duggan | |
| 1992 | A Touch of Frostas Ridley | |
| 1992 | Dirty Workas Eddie Ryan | |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Lenoas | |
| 1991 | Curly Sueas Frank Arnold | |
| 1991 | Love, Lies and Murderas Carrothers | |
| 1989 | I Want to Go Homeas Harry Dempsey | |
| 1989 | Hardballas Charlie Battles | |
| 1989 | I Know My First Name Is Stevenas Del Stayner | |
| 1988 | Midnight Runas Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter | |
| 1988 | She's Having a Babyas Ken | |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop IIas John Taggart | |
| 1987 | Some Kind of Wonderfulas Cliff Nelson | |
| 1986 | King Kong Livesas Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt | |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Strangeras Det. Roger Dunn | |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Strangeras Det. Roger Dunn | |
| 1986 | Last Resortas Phil Cocoran | |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zoneas Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon") | |
| 1985 | A Death in Californiaas Bob Swalwell | |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Copas Sgt. Taggart | |
| 1984 | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimensionas Highway Patrolman | |
| 1984 | Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Linkas Cash Hunt | |
| 1983 | The A-Teamas Cactus Jack Slater | |
| 1982 | Police Squad!as | |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freewayas Otto Kemper | |
| 1981 | Elvis and the Beauty Queenas Jake | |
| 1980 | Borderlineas Charlie Monroe | |
| 1979 | Lawman Without a Gunas 1st State Trooper | |
| 1979 | Breaking Awayas Mike's Brother | |
| 1978 | Dallasas Willie Joe Garr | |
| 1978 | The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islandsas Orville | |
| 1977 | Oh, God!as Police Officer (uncredited) | |
| 1977 | Code Ras Karl | |
| 1976 | Cat Murkil and the Silksas Coach Larkin | |
| 1975 | Starsky & Hutchas | |
| 1975 | My Father's Houseas Sergeant | |
| 1974 | Psycho Sistersas Brock | |
| 1973 | Kojakas Cullen | |
| 1973 | An Eye for an Eyeas Sgt. Matthews | |
| 1973 | Police Storyas | |
| 1972 | M*A*S*Has | |
| 1971 | Columboas Calvin MacGruder | |
| 1952 | Todayas Self | |
| Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2as Judge Nathan Rivers |
