John Ashton
Birthday: 1948-02-22
Deathday: 2024-09-26
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned
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) and Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), 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.
Credits
| Year | Title | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2 | Judge Nathan Rivers | |
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2024-09-20 | All Happy Families | Roy Landry |
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2024-06-20 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F | Chief John Taggart |
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2023-11-03 | Lonesome Soldier | Macroberts |
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2022-10-06 | Death in Texas | Asher |
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2019-11-04 | American Christmas | Rob |
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2019-06-20 | Making a Deal with the Devil | FBI Director |
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2019-05-18 | The Last Big Save | Joseph Bird Sr. |
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2019-05-10 | Once Upon a River | |
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2018-04-16 | The Joke Thief | Joseph Rogers |
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2015-03-16 | Uncle John | Uncle John |
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2009-07-27 | A Letter to Dad | Mike Donahue |
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2009-05-17 | Middle Men | Morgan |
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2007-09-18 | Gone Baby Gone | Det. Nick Poole |
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2007-03-24 | Reign of the Gargoyles | Commander Latham |
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1999-07-28 | Escape from Alaska | Kemp |
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1999-06-04 | Instinct | Guard Dacks |
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1998-04-12 | The Day Lincoln Was Shot | Ulysses S. Grant |
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1998-03-27 | Meet the Deedles | Capt. Douglas Pine |
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1997-01-18 | Little Girls in Pretty Boxes | Peter Bryant |
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1996-08-13 | Fast Money | Lt. Diego |
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1996-05-17 | For Which He Stands | District Attorney |
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1995-12-15 | The Shooter | Alex Reed |
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1995-12-08 | Condition Red | Deputy Warden |
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1994-12-02 | Trapped in Paradise | Ed Dawson |
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1994-06-29 | Little Big League | Mac MacNally |
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1992-07-22 | Dirty Work | Eddie Ryan |
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1991-10-25 | Curly Sue | Frank Arnold |
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1989-09-27 | I Want to Go Home | Harry Dempsey |
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1988-07-20 | Midnight Run | Marvin Dorfler |
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1988-02-05 | She's Having a Baby | Ken |
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1987-05-18 | Beverly Hills Cop II | John Taggart |
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1987-02-27 | Some Kind of Wonderful | Cliff Nelson |
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1986-12-16 | King Kong Lives | Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt |
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1986-05-04 | The Deliberate Stranger | Det. Roger Dunn |
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1986-03-31 | Last Resort | Phil Cocoran |
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1984-12-05 | Beverly Hills Cop | Sgt. Taggart |
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1984-08-10 | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension | Highway Patrolman |
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1984-01-01 | Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link | Cash Hunt |
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1981-08-21 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Otto Kemper |
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1981-03-01 | Elvis and the Beauty Queen | Jake |
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1980-12-19 | Borderline | Charlie Monroe |
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1979-05-30 | Lawman Without a Gun | 1st State Trooper |
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1979-05-24 | Breaking Away | Mike's Brother |
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1978-02-28 | The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands | Orville |
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1977-10-07 | Oh, God! | Police Officer (uncredited) |
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1976-07-01 | Cat Murkil and the Silks | Coach Larkin |
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1975-06-01 | My Father's House | Sergeant |
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1974-12-25 | Psycho Sisters | Brock |
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1973-09-28 | An Eye for an Eye | Sgt. Matthews |