John Ashton, the actor known for his iconic role as Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the ‘Beverly Hills Cop series, has died at the age of 76 after battling cancer. Ashton passed away peacefully at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, on September 26, as confirmed by his representative.
Tributes have been pouring in for Ashton, who starred alongside Eddie Murphy in the classic buddy cop film franchise that made him a household name. He first appeared in the original ‘Beverly Hills Cop movie in 1984 and reprised his role in the 1987 sequel.
Ashton, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, began his acting journey after graduating from the University of Southern California’s School of Theatre. His first film role came in the 1973 horror flick ‘The Psychopath’, where he played Sgt. Matthews. He then went on to feature in movies such as ‘Honky Tonk Freeway’ and ‘The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension’ before landing his breakout role in ‘Beverly Hills Cop.
He later starred in ‘Midnight Run’ alongside Robert De Niro and took on roles in films like ‘Gone Baby Gone’ in 2007 and ‘Uncle John’ in 2016. Earlier this year, he reprised his iconic role as Taggart in ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
Beyond his film career, Ashton also had a prolific television presence, appearing in series such as ‘Hardball’, ‘Dallas’, and ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also played a notable role in the biopic ‘I Know My First Name Is Steven, portraying the father of a real-life kidnap victim.
At the time of his passing, Ashton had completed filming for ‘Hot Bath an’ a Stiff Drink 2′, and another film, ‘Hot Bath, Stiff Drink, an’ a Close Shave’, was in post-production.
Fellow ‘Beverly Hills Cop star Judge Reinhold shared a moving tribute to his co-star, describing Ashton as “a talented actor and a wonderful person” whose presence on set was “always a joy.
John Ashton is survived by his family and friends, who remember him not only for his contributions to film and television but also for his kindness and dedication to his craft.
Fans have taken to social media to honour Ashton’s memory, with many recalling his iconic performances and the impact he had on the film industry. His contributions to the world of acting will be remembered for years to come.
