Actor John Ashton, best known for his portrayal of Sgt. John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” series, has passed away at the age of 76. Ashton died on Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, as confirmed by his representative, Alan Somers. However, no details regarding the cause of death have been released.
Over a career spanning more than 50 years, Ashton appeared in over 200 performances across stage, film, and television, but his most memorable role remains that of Sgt. Taggart in the iconic “Beverly Hills Cop” films. His character, Sgt. Taggart, is a strict, by-the-book officer who teams up with the more easygoing Detective Billy Rosewood, played by Judge Reinhold. Together, they assist Axel Foley, the street-smart Detroit detective, portrayed by Eddie Murphy, in his mission to track down his friend’s murderer. The 1984 film, a massive hit, also introduced audiences to the humorous moment involving a banana in a car’s tailpipe, a scene that became one of the film’s defining comedic moments.
Ashton once revealed in a 2020 interview with MovieJunk, a podcast and YouTube channel, that the characters of Taggart and Rosewood were initially intended to have minor roles in the movie. However, once Eddie Murphy joined the cast as Axel Foley, the dynamic between the three actors created a unique chemistry. The film’s director, Martin Brest, recognized this chemistry and allowed the actors to improvise, which led to their characters being more prominently featured in the film. “We just started developing a chemistry, and Marty saw it and loved it, and just kept letting us ad-lib and run with scenes,” Ashton recalled.
Ashton returned to the role of Taggart in the 1987 sequel, “Beverly Hills Cop II,” and again in the recently released “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” which came out in July of this year. This film reunited him with both Reinhold and Murphy, allowing the trio to reprise their iconic roles. In an interview with “Nerds of Color” earlier this year, Ashton shared his joy at being part of the project again, likening the experience to a “family reunion” and saying they all fell right back into their familiar rhythm.
John David Ashton was born on February 22, 1948, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in Enfield, Connecticut. He later attended the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a degree in theater arts. Reflecting on his childhood in a 2020 interview with MovieJunk, Ashton described himself as a bit of a troublemaker. He credited his early interest in acting with helping him avoid further mischief and giving him a sense of purpose. “It saved my life, probably,” he said.
Ashton’s acting career began on stage in the 1960s, with one of his breakthrough moments coming from his critically acclaimed performance in Sam Shepard’s play, “True West.” He performed the role of Lee opposite Ed Harris at the South Coast Repertory Theater in 1981. This success eventually led to his audition for “Beverly Hills Cop,” launching him into mainstream Hollywood.
Following his work in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, Ashton starred in another memorable role, playing Marvin Dorfler, a bounty hunter, in the 1988 action-comedy “Midnight Run,” alongside Robert De Niro. According to Ashton, De Niro personally selected him for the role after they had a successful reading together. In the same year, Ashton appeared in “She’s Having a Baby,” a film that explored the ups and downs of married life, starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern. His other film credits include “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Little Big League,” “Instinct,” “Gone Baby Gone,” “Uncle John,” “All Happy Families,” and “Once Upon A River.”
In addition to his film work, Ashton took on a starring role in the 1989 television series “Hardball,” where he played Charlie Battles, a veteran police officer paired with a younger, more reckless partner. Although the show only lasted one season, Ashton’s performance was well-received. His other TV appearances included guest roles on popular shows such as “The Twilight Zone,” “The A-Team,” “Police Squad!,” “EastEnders,” “Brookside,” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
John Ashton is survived by his wife, Robin Hoye; two sisters, Sharon Ann Ashton and Linda Jean Ashton; a brother, Edward Richard Ashton Jr.; his two children, Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton; and his grandson, Henry.
Despite his long career, Ashton was far from considering retirement. In his 2020 interview, he expressed his deep passion for acting, stating, “I enjoy my work. Somebody asked me, ‘When are you going to retire?’ I said, ‘To what?’ When I work, I love what I do, and when I’m not working I play golf, so what the hell am I going to retire to? I’m not going to retire. I’m never retiring.”
