John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, has died. He was 76.

Ashton died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, his family announced in a statement released by Ashton’s manager, Alan Somers, on Sunday. No cause of death was immediately available.

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ashton was a regular face across TV series and films, including “Midnight Run,” “Little Big League” and “Gone Baby Gone.”

But in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, Ashton played an essential part of an indelible trio. Though Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley, a Detroit detective following a case in Los Angeles, was the lead, the two local detectives — Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Ashton’s Taggart — were Axel’s sometimes reluctant, sometimes eager collaborators.

Of the three, Taggart — “Sarge” to Billy — was the more fearful, by-the-book detective. But he would regularly be coaxed into Axel’s plans. Ashton co-starred in the first two films, beginning with the 1984 original, and returned for the Netflix reboot, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” released earlier this year.

Ashton played a more unscrupulous character in Martin Brest’s 1988 buddy comedy “Midnight Run.” He was the rival bounty hunter also pursuing Charles Grodin’s wanted accountant in “The Duke” while he’s in the custody of Robert De Niro’s Jack Walsh.

Ashton's Memorable Audition with De Niro

Speaking in July to Collider, Ashton recalled auditioning with De Niro.

“Bobby started handing me these matches, and I went to grab the matches, and he threw them on the floor and stared at me,” said Ashton. “I looked at the matches, and I looked up, and I said, ‘F—- you,’ and he said, ‘F—- you, too.’ I said, ‘Go —- yourself.’ I know every other actor picked those up and handed it to him, and I found out as soon as I left he went, ‘I want him,’ because he wanted somebody to stand up to him.”

A Legacy of Love, Dedication, and Service

Ashton is survived by his wife, Robin Hoye, of 24 years, two children, three stepchildren, a grandson, two sisters and a brother.

In a statement released by his manager, Ashton's family said, “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.”

Remembering Ashton's Connecticut Roots

ENFIELD, CT — Oftentimes, people from small towns across America who wind up finding success in the sports or entertainment industries tend to forget about their roots. Such was not the case, however, with John Ashton.

Ashton, a 1966 graduate of Enfield High School who went on to big screen stardom in the “Beverly Hills Cop” movie series, died Thursday at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado after a brief illness. He was 76.

He played Sgt. John Taggart alongside stars Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold in the first two BHC films, released in 1984 and 1987, respectively. He did not appear in the third installment, released in 1994, but returned to the fold nearly three decades later in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which debuted on Netflix in July 2024.

Despite his tremendous success and living in a different part of the country for his entire adult life, Ashton always maintained a strong connection to his hometown. Last fall, his brother Ed was inducted into the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1961 Suburban League football championship team, and Ashton was present at the Hall of Fame dinner at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

The next day, he and some old friends got together to share stories about their time growing up in Enfield. For the occasion, Ashton wore a shirt which read, “Enfield Connecticut, It’s Where My Story Begins.”

It began on Francis Avenue off Route 5, where former neighbor Paul Zenczak recalled, “Played hide and seek and baseball with him on Francis Avenue in Enfield when I was a kid. Great guy. “

He became a proficient athlete, playing on a Thompsonville Little League All-Star team which made it to the state semifinals. Upon entering Enfield High School, he played football on both the offensive and defensive lines, and was also a member of an early Raider ice hockey squad.

Former neighbor and teammate Charlie Ragno told Patch, “Nobody could say a bad word about John Ashton. He was a great teammate and a great friend.”

Donna McCue said, “He was a good friend, he hung around at the pop store with us on Alden Avenue.”

“I remember John as a classmate with a witty personality, who always had a smile for everyone,” fellow 1966 grad George Van Tasel said..

Ashton developed his thespian skills while in high school, spending two years in the dramatics club and being voted Class Actor as a senior.

Upon leaving Enfield, he spent some time at Defiance College in Ohio before heading further west, graduating from the University of Southern California School of Theatre.

From Small Roles to Cult Classics

Like most young actors, good roles were hard to come by, and Ashton found himself taking small parts in forgettable films such as “The Psychopath,” “So Evil, My Sister,” “Borderline” and “Honky Tonk Freeway.” He also made a slew of one-off appearances in popular TV series like “Kojak,” “Emergency!,” “Columbo,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Police Woman,” “MAS*H” and “Wonder Woman.”

In 1978, he landed his first recurring role in a hit series, appearing as Willie Joe Garr in six episodes of “Dallas.” On the big screen, he had a featured role in 1984’s “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension,” which was financially unsuccessful at the time but has since become a cult classic. His next opportunity was “Beverly Hills Cop,” and the rest is history.

A Career Filled with Success and Beloved Roles

Over the past four decades, Ashton had starring roles in films like “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Midnight Run,” “Curly Sue” and “Little Big League.”

Tributes Pour in for the Beloved Actor

Beverly Hills Cop star Judge Reinhold has paid tribute to his longtime friend and colleague John Ashton, who has passed away at 76 following a battle with cancer.

The duo memorably played the ‘by the book’ police partners Taggart and Rosewood in the hit comedy franchise starring Eddie Murphy. Ashton was the straight man and Reinhold the clown in what became a beloved comedy pairing in the movies.

Reinhold said last night: “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.”

Ashton starred in the first two Beverly Hills Cop movies and then this year reprised his role in Netflix sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

A rep for Ashton told Deadline that the actor died “peacefully” on Thursday in Ft. Collins, CO.

“John was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” read a statement shared by the rep.

“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.”

A Lasting Legacy

John Ashton’s career spanned over four decades, and during that time he brought countless characters to life, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. While he was known for his roles in films such as “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Midnight Run”, his impact on the world extended far beyond the screen. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a dear friend to many. John Ashton’s legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.