John Ashton, known for his role as John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colo., his manager Alan Somers confirmed to Variety. He was 76.
Ashton played Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the first two installments of the “Beverly Hills Cop” series, alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold. He reprised his role in 2024’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” in which his character is now a police chief.
John David Ashton was born on Feb. 22, 1948, in Springfield, Mass., to Edward Richard Ashton, Sr. and Eva May (Wells) Ashton. He was raised in Enfield, Conn., where he graduated from Enfield High School. After attending Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio, for two years, he transferred to the University of Southern California and graduated with a BA in theater arts.
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