John Ashton, the actor famous for his role as Sgt. John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop series, has passed away at the age of 76. His representative informed Deadline that he died “peacefully” on Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, following a battle with cancer.
A statement from his rep described Ashton as a “loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather” who will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. It added, “John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service. His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, along with his siblings, extended family, and all who loved him. John’s impact on the world will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”
Ashton first portrayed Sgt. Taggart in the original 1984 Beverly Hills Cop alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold, returning for the sequel in 1987 and reprising his role in the recent Netflix film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
In addition to his iconic role, Ashton appeared in several other films, including 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 television credits feature guest spots on 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 on February 22, 1948, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and raised in Enfield, Connecticut, Ashton started his education at Defiance College in Ohio before transferring to the University of Southern California, where he earned a BA in theater arts.
Apart from acting, Ashton was a passionate golfer, participating in celebrity golf tournaments globally for various charitable causes.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye, as well as his children Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton, his stepchildren Courtney Donovan, Lindsay Curcio, and Ashley Hoye, and his grandson Henry.