John Ashton, the veteran film actor known for roles in Beverly Hills Cop and Midnight Run, has died at the age of 76.
TMZ reports that Ashton died peacefully on Thursday, September 26th, in Ft. Collins, Colorado, following a battle with cancer. “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,” his representative told TMZ in a statement.
Ashton is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Sergeant John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise opposite Eddie Murray’s Axel Foley. He appeared in the original 1984 film, the 1987 sequel Beverly Hills Cop II, and recently reprised the role for the 2024 Netflix-funded sequel, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
His other notable roles included playing the bounty hunter in 1988 action comedy Midnight Run starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin; as Eric Stoltz’s father in John Hughes’ romantic comedy Some Kind of Wonderful; and as a police detective in Ben Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone.
All told, Ashton appeared in more than 200 films and television production over the course of his 50 years in Hollywood.