Actor John Ashton, best known for playing John Taggert in Beverly Hills Cop and its sequels, has died aged 76.
Ashton died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, after a brief battle with cancer, his manager Alan Somers told The Hollywood Reporter.
“John was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” read a statement shared to Deadline.
“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.”
Ashton played Detective Sergeant Taggart in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold, then reprised his role for the 1987 sequel. Most recently, Ashton returned as Taggart, this time promoted to police chief, for Netflix’s 2024 movie Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
In a tweet, below, Reinhold paid tribute to his Beverly Hills co-star, saying: "Thursday night John seemed like he was sleeping but the Yankees were on. They won the game, clinched the division then John made it to home. Forty years of laughs on screen and off. John LIVED his life! My brother, my partner, my Sarge – I love you. There’s no smoking in Heaven, John."
Thursday night John seemed like he was sleeping but the Yankees were on. They won the game, clinched the division then John made it to home.
Forty years of laughs on screen and off. John LIVED his life!
My brother, my partner, my Sarge – I love you.
There’s no smoking in… pic.twitter.com/auysWWGzxN
— Judge Reinhold (@JudgeReinhold) September 29, 2024
In a career spanning over 50 years in TV and films, Ashton starred in 1988’s Midnight Run, 1994’s Little Big League, 2007’s Gone Baby Gone, 2009’s Middle Men, and classic TV shows such as Columbo, M*A*S*H, and Dallas.
Ashton is survived by his sisters, Sharon Ann Ashton (and her husband, Montana State District Judge Kenneth R. Neill) and Linda Jean Ashton, and his brother, Edward Richard (Ann) Ashton Jr, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Photo by CBS via Getty Images.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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