Cast & creator
John Ashton
Best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, JAG, King of the Hill
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.
Also known as: John David Ashton, جان اشتون
52
film credits
26
television credits
78
1952–2024 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (78)
Showing 78 of 78 credits
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alan Fewkes
1999
JAG
Brian Turque
1995
King of the Hill
Instructor (voice)
1997
Columbo
Calvin MacGruder
1971
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Dallas
Willie Joe Garr
1978
M*A*S*H
1972
Judging Amy
Dashiel Purdue
1999
The A-Team
Cactus Jack Slater
1983
The Twilight Zone
Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
1985
Starsky & Hutch
1975
A Touch of Frost
Ridley
1992
Kojak
Cullen
1973
Today
Self
1952
Police Story
1973
Fairly Legal
Lou Fisher
2011
Beverly Hills Cop
Sgt. Taggart
1984
The Finder
Franklin Sherman
2012
Gone Baby Gone
Nick Poole
2007
Beverly Hills Cop II
John Taggart
1987
Fantasy Island
Bobby
1998
Midnight Run
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
1988
Police Squad!
1982
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Chief John Taggart
2024
Hardball
Charlie Battles
1989
Code R
Karl
1977
I Know My First Name Is Steven
Del Stayner
1989
The Tommyknockers
Butch Duggan
1993
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Highway Patrolman
1984
Love, Lies and Murder
Carrothers
1991
King Kong Lives
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
1986
Curly Sue
Frank Arnold
1991
The Shooter
Alex Reed
1995
A Death in California
Bob Swalwell
1985
Trapped in Paradise
Ed Dawson
1994
Breaking Away
Mike's Brother
1979
Some Kind of Wonderful
Cliff Nelson
1987
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
1986
Instinct
Guard Dacks
1999
Meet the Deedles
Capt. Douglas Pine
1998
Middle Men
Morgan
2009
She's Having a Baby
Ken
1988
Borderline
Charlie Monroe
1980
Little Big League
Mac MacNally
1994
Death in Texas
Asher
2022
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
Oh, God!
Police Officer (uncredited)
1977
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
1986
Honky Tonk Freeway
Otto Kemper
1981
I Want to Go Home
Harry Dempsey
1989
My Father's House
Sergeant
1975
Psycho Sisters
Brock
1974
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Ulysses S. Grant
1998
Lonesome Soldier
Macroberts
2023
Lawman Without a Gun
1st State Trooper
1979
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
Judge Nathan Rivers
Condition Red
Deputy Warden
1995
All Happy Families
Roy Landry
2024
The Last Big Save
Joseph Bird Sr.
2019
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Jake
1981
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Peter Bryant
1997
Last Resort
Phil Cocoran
1986
For Which He Stands
District Attorney
1996
Reign of the Gargoyles
Commander Latham
2007
An Eye for an Eye
Sgt. Matthews
1973
Dirty Work
Eddie Ryan
1992
Fast Money
Lt. Diego
1996
Uncle John
Uncle John
2015
Once Upon a River
2019
Escape from Alaska
Kemp
1999
The Joke Thief
Joseph Rogers
2018
A Letter to Dad
Mike Donahue
2009
Cat Murkil and the Silks
Coach Larkin
1976
Making a Deal with the Devil
FBI Director
2019The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
Orville
1978
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
Cash Hunt
1984
Bill's Gun Shop
Bill Voight
2001
American Christmas
Rob
2019