John Ashton, the veteran actor greatest identified for taking part in Detective John Taggart on the “Beverly Hills Cop” sequence, has died.
Ashton died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, his household mentioned in an announcement to the Times, shared by his supervisor, Alan Somers. The reason for dying was not revealed. He was 76 years previous.
“John was a loving husband, brother, father and grandfather who will likely be deeply missed by all who knew him,” the household mentioned.
Ashton, a Massachusetts native, died two months after the premiere of Netflix’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” which noticed him reunite with Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold 40 years after the unique movie premiered in 1984.
The first “Beverly Hills Cop,” directed by Martin Brest, follows Axel Foley (Murphy), a Detroit detective who works to unravel a homicide case in Beverly Hills with the reluctant assist of Taggart (Ashton) and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold ).
Taggart is an skilled and rigorous detective, whose relationship with Axel begins controversially. “We’re extra more likely to consider a distinguished native businessman than a foul-mouthed fool from out of city,” Taggart tells his future associate in “Beverly Hills Cop.”
Tensions between Taggart and Axel finally settle down, resulting in a profitable rescue mission on the finish of the movie and paving the way in which for extra “Beverly Hills Cop” movies within the years to comply with. Three years after the primary episode, Murphy, Ashton and Reinhold reunited for “Beverly Hills Cop II,” though Ashton didn’t return for “Beverly Hills Cop III” in 1994.
In July 2024, Netflix relaunched the movie sequence and reunited the trio for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”
“It was like a homecoming, like a household reunion after we received again collectively. It was quite simple,” Ashton informed HeyUGuys whereas watching the movie Before.
Before “Beverly Hills Cop,” Ashton was no stranger to well-liked police-focused tasks, having appeared in sequence together with “Kojak,” “Columbo” and “Starsky & Hutch” within the Nineteen Seventies. His tv credit additionally embrace “M*A*S*H,” “Dallas,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Brookside” and “Hardball.”
Ashton additionally starred within the movies “An Eye for an Eye,” “Midnight Run,” “Little Big League” and “Some Kind of Wonderful,” amongst others.
John David Ashton was born on February 22, 1948 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from USC, the place he studied theater arts. More than a memorable actor, Ashton was additionally an avid reader, golf fanatic, fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants, and a household man.
“Family was paramount to John,” his family members mentioned.
He is survived by his spouse, Robin Hoye, youngsters Michelle and Michael; stepchildren Courtney, Lindsay and Ashley; nephew Enrico; sisters Sharon Ann Ashton and Linda Jean and brother Edward.
A celebration of life will likely be held at a later date, though the household says donations in Ashton’s reminiscence might be made to Pathways Hospice Care in Fort Collins.
