‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Actor John Ashton Passes Away at 76 After Battle with Cancer
John Ashton, known for his role as Detective Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop series, has passed away at 76 after a battle with cancer. He leaves behind a legacy in film and television.
BollywoodFever: John Ashton, the beloved actor best known for his role as the no-nonsense Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, has passed away at the age of 76. TMZ reports that Ashton died peacefully on Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado, after a battle with cancer.
With a career spanning five decades, Ashton appeared in over 200 film, television, and stage productions, but it was his memorable role alongside Eddie Murphy in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop that cemented him as a household name. Ashton co-starred in three of the four BHC films, including the most recent installment, which premiered on Netflix to positive reviews earlier this year.
In the Beverly Hills Cop series, Ashton portrayed Detective Taggart, the straight-laced partner to Eddie Murphy’s wise-cracking Axel Foley. Judge Reinhold also starred as their goofy, but lovable, colleague Detective Billy Rosewood. Ashton’s portrayal of the by-the-book cop became a staple of the franchise.
Beyond his work in Beverly Hills Cop, Ashton starred in other notable projects, including “MAS*H,” John Hughes’ Some Kind of Wonderful, where he played Eric Stoltz’s father, and the action-comedy Midnight Run alongside Robert De Niro.
Most recently, Ashton co-hosted the “Ashton and Davis Show” on 870 ESPN Radio and appeared in the fourth Beverly Hills Cop film.
Ashton’s representative, Alan Somers, shared a heartfelt tribute, stating, “John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service. His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family. John’s impact on the world will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”
The family has requested that donations in John’s memory be made to Pathways Hospice Care.
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