John Ashton, the actor known for playing Sgt. John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop films, has died. He was 76.
Following a battle with cancer, a rep for Ashton tells Deadline that the Some Kind of Wonderful the actor died “peacefully” on Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
“John was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” reads a statement shared by the rep.
“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.”
After first portraying Sgt. Taggart in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop with Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold, Ashton returned for the 1987 sequel and most recently reprised the role for Netflix‘s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
Eddie Murphy, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold in Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). (Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Additionally, Ashton appeared in such films as Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Curly Sue (1991), Little Big League (1994), Gone Baby Gone (2007), Middle Men (2009) and Once Upon a River (2019). His TV credits include episodes of Columbo, Wonder Woman, M*A*S*H, Starsky & Hutch, Dallas, The A-Team, The Twilight Zone, Judging Amy and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Born Feb. 22, 1948 in Springfield, Massachusetts and raised in Enfield, Connecticut, Ashton attended Defiance College in Ohio before transferring to University of Southern California, where he graduated with a BA in theater arts.
In addition to acting, Ashton was also an avid golfer, lending his talents to celebrity golf tournaments around the world for various causes.
Ashton is survived by wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye, as well as his Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton, his stepchildren Courtney Donovan, Lindsay Curcio and Ashley Hoye, and his grandson Henry.