‘Beverly Hills Cop’ & ‘Midnight Run’ Actor John Ashton Dead At 76

Actor John Ashton, best known for the action-comedy Beverly Hills Cop franchise, has passed away. Ashton’s rep has issued a statement confirming his passing. He was 76 at the time of his death.

Ashton’s Family Has Asked For Donations In His Honor

In a statement with TMZ, Ashton’s rep Alan Somers confirmed he had passed away this past Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He was battling cancer at the time of his death.

According to the publication, Somers issued the following statement, “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.”

The publication noted that Ashton’s family any donations made be used for Pathways Hospice Care. He was 76 at the time of his death.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ashton had career spanning decades as an actor. One of his first roles was the 1973 horror film, The Psychopath.

Some notably television series he appeared in early in his career include Columbo, Emergency!, Dallas, and Police Squad!. Some of his early films included An Eye for an Eye, Breaking Away, Borderline, and King Kong Lives.

For many, Ashton’s breakout role was playing Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the first two Beverly Hills Cop films. Ashton appeared in these films with Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold, who played Axel Foley and Billy Rosewood, respectively.

Ashton Previously Talked About His Career & Characters On His Website

Ashton’s character Taggart was a by-the-book cop who usually got exasperated by the leads, although he wasn’t against joining in on their plans. Notably, Ashton also appeared in the fourth installment, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Released in 2024, this would be his final film role before his death.

On his website, Ashton had previously talked about appearing in other films in the series. As he wrote, “I know from your fan mail that you would like to see another one with me playing Taggart again, and if everything works out I would love to recreate him.”

In 1987, Ashton appeared in the John Hughes comedy-drama Some Kind of Wonderful, playing the main character Keith Nelson’s father. The following year saw him appear in another Hughes project, She’s Having a Baby.

In 1988, Ashton would also notably appear in the action-comedy, Midnight Run. In this film, he and Robert De Niro play rival bounty hunters. On his website, Ashton also discussed reprising his character, Marvin Dorfler, in follow-up films. As he wrote, “There has also been some talk about another Midnight Run. It would be a thrill for me to work with Robert DeNiro again and reprise my role of Marvin Dorfler. It was such a pleasure working with him on the original and I’m sure we could create some magic again.”

When talking with all the actors he’s met and worked with over the years, Ashton summed it up by saying, “It was a treat.” Other notable film projects for the actor included Little Big League, Trapped in Paradise, The Shooter, and Meet the Deedles.

What films and TV shows have you seen Ashton in? Let us know your thoughts and come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.