John Ashton, the seasoned character actor best remembered for his portrayal of the tough yet endearing police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” series, has passed away at the age of 76.
The actor took his final breath on Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, as confirmed by a statement from Ashton’s family, released through his manager, Alan Somers, on Sunday. The cause of his death remains undisclosed at this time.
Ashton’s extensive career, spanning more than five decades, made him a familiar figure in both television and cinema, appearing in films such as Midnight Run, Little Big League, and Gone Baby Gone.
However, it was in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise that Ashton secured his most iconic role, cementing his place in an unforgettable trio. Eddie Murphy led the series as Axel Foley, a detective from Detroit following a case in Los Angeles, but it was the dynamic between him and the two local detectives — Judge Reinhold’s Billy Rosewood and Ashton’s Taggart — that formed the heart of the ensemble.
Among the three, Taggart — affectionately called “Sarge” by Billy — was the more by-the-book officer, often hesitant and cautious. Yet, time and again, he found himself drawn into Axel’s unorthodox plans. Ashton appeared in all four films of the franchise, starting with the original 1984 classic, continuing through the latest installment, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, released earlier this year by Netflix.
In Martin Brest’s 1988 comedy Midnight Run, Ashton revealed a different side of his acting range, portraying a less principled character. He played a competing bounty hunter determined to capture Charles Grodin’s character, “The Duke,” while De Niro’s Jack Walsh held him in custody.
Recalling his audition for Midnight Run in a July interview with Collider, Ashton shared a memorable exchange with Robert De Niro. “Bobby handed me some matches, and as I went to grab them, he deliberately tossed them on the ground and just stared at me. I glanced at the matches, then looked him in the eyes and said, ‘F— you,’ to which he responded, ‘F— you, too.’ I told him to ‘Go —- yourself.’ Later, I learned that every other actor had picked the matches up and handed them back. But after I left, De Niro said, ‘I want him,’ because he was looking for someone who would stand their ground.”
John Ashton leaves behind his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye, two children, three stepchildren, a grandson, two sisters, and a brother.