John Ashton’s Role in Beverly Hills Cop: Actor Remembered After Passing at 76

Actor John Ashton, renowned for his portrayal of detective John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, sadly passed away on September 26 at the age of 76 after a brief battle with cancer in his Colorado home. His family announced the news in a statement from Ashton’s manager, Alan Somers, on Sunday, but did not disclose an immediate cause of death.

With a career spanning over 50 years, Ashton became a familiar face in both television series and films, featuring in notable titles such as Midnight Run, Little Big League, and Gone Baby Gone.

John Ashton and His Iconic Role in Beverly Hills Cop

Ashton began his acting journey in 1973 with a role in the film An Eye for an Eye, reaching a significant milestone in 1984 when he played detective John Taggart, the partner to Billy Rosewood in Beverly Hills Cop. As Taggart, a stickler for rules, he balanced his character’s seriousness with the laid-back approach of his partner, Billy. Ashton appeared in three of the four films in the Eddie Murphy-driven franchise, most recently reprising his role for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which was released on July 3.

In the franchise, Ashton was a vital part of a memorable trio. While Eddie Murphy starred as Axel Foley, a Detroit detective investigating a case in Los Angeles, Billy Rosewood and Ashton’s Taggart were key local detectives who aided Axel, often reluctantly. John Ashton’s portrayal of Taggart as the more cautious and rule-abiding member of the trio brought a unique dynamic to the films.

It all started in 1984 with Beverly Hills Cop, where Taggart and Rosewood teamed up with the fast-talking Axel Foley to investigate the murder of Axel’s best friend. The trio embarked on a thrilling yet comedic journey, breaking the rules while supporting one another throughout all four movies.

Initially cast in supporting roles, Taggart and Rosewood became co-stars with Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley once he joined the cast. In a 2020 interview with MovieJunk, a podcast and YouTube channel, John Ashton reflected on the chemistry that developed among the three:

“We just started developing a chemistry, and Marty saw it and loved it, and just kept letting us ad-lib and run with scenes,”

John Ashton reprised his role in the sequel, Beverly Hills Cop II, in 1987, but did not participate in Beverly Hills Cop III. He returned for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, released in July, marking a reunion with his fellow co-stars.

John Ashton’s Background and Career

John David Ashton was born in 1948 in Springfield and earned a degree in theater arts from the University of Southern California. His early film appearances included:

• An Eye for an Eye (1973)
• Borderline (1980)
• Breaking Away (1979)
• Last Resort (1986)
• Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
• King Kong Lives (1986)

Ashton also appeared in the 1987 comedy-drama Some Kind of Wonderful and the 1988 film She’s Having a Baby. Additionally, he gained recognition for his role in the action-comedy Midnight Run, where he played a rival bounty hunter to Robert De Niro’s character, and in Little Big League (1994) alongside Luke Edwards. In 2007, he had a supporting role in the drama Gone Baby Gone, directed by Ben Affleck.

John Ashton was a prolific actor whose contributions to the film industry will be remembered for years to come.

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