John Ashton, a veteran actor perhaps best known for his role as the tough Detective John Taggert in the Beverly Hills Cop films, has died. He was 76.
Ashton passed away peacefully on Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado, following a battle with cancer, per TMZ.
Over his five decades in Hollywood, Ashton appeared in over 200 film, television, and stage productions. His impressive career includes roles in iconic 80s films like Midnight Run, alongside Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, as well as fun genre flicks such as 1986’s King Kong Lives.
Ashton also had a memorable turn in John Hughes’ 1987 coming-of-age film, Some Kind of Wonderful. He played Eric Stolz’s gruff but sympathetic father in the film, which deals with a teen outsider figuring out his place in the world.
Ashton shares a particularly heart-wrenching scene alongside Stolz. In the scene, Stolz’s character lays out a laundry list of problems he has despite his father thinking he has the perfect teenage existence. The imbittered but caring father admits he didn’t know the struggles his son was facing in high school and life in general.
“How could you know? You’re my father,” Stolz sympathetically tells Ashton.
Meanwhile, Ashton also appeared in a host of classic TV shows. These include The A-Team, Dallas, and the 80s Twilight Zone revival.
John Ashton’s Starmaking Turn in ‘Beverly Hills Cop’
However, Ashton truly became a household name when he co-starred with the rising star Eddie Murphy in the 1984 classic Beverly Hills Cop. In this iconic film, John portrayed Detective Sergeant John Taggart, serving as the straight man to Eddie’s comical antics as Axel Foley. His character was complemented by Judge Reinhold, who played the endearing and quirky partner, Detective Billy Rosewood.
Ashton appeared as the fan-favorite character in every installment of the popular franchise. This includes the most recent, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F which dropped on Netflix just this year.
“John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service,” Ashton’s reps told TMZ. “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.”