Beverly Hills Cop’s Beloved Grumpy Detective, John Ashton, Dead at 76 – You Won’t Believe It!

The seasoned actor, John Ashton, best recognized for his role as the grumpy Detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” series, has passed away.

His family announced that Ashton passed away in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Thursday, as confirmed by his manager, Alan Somers, in a statement to The Times. The cause of his death was not disclosed. He was 76 years old.

“John was a cherished husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be profoundly missed by all who knew him,” the family stated.

Ashton, born in Massachusetts, passed away two months following the debut of Netflix’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” in which he reunited with Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold 40 years after the first film premiered in 1984.

The initial “Beverly Hills Cop,” directed by Martin Brest, centers around Murphy’s character, Axel Foley, a Detroit detective who embarks on solving a murder case in Beverly Hills, aided reluctantly by Ashton’s character, Taggart, and Judge Reinhold’s character, Billy Rosewood.

Taggart is an experienced, straight-laced detective whose affiliation with Axel begins with tension. Taggart asserts to his soon-to-be partner in “Beverly Hills Cop,” “We’re more likely to trust a notable local businessman than a vulgar outsider.”

Eventually, the strained relationship between Taggart and Axel eases, leading to a successful rescue operation at the conclusion of the movie and setting the stage for future “Beverly Hills Cop” films. Three years after the first movie, Murphy, Ashton, and Reinhold reunited for “Beverly Hills Cop II,” but Ashton did not appear in “Beverly Hills Cop III” in 1994.

In July 2024, Netflix revitalized the film series and brought back the trio for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”

“It felt like a homecoming, like a family gathering when we reunited. It was very natural,” Ashton shared with HeyUGuys during the film’s premiere.

Prior to “Beverly Hills Cop,” Ashton was familiar with popular police-themed productions, having been featured in shows like “Kojak,” “Columbo,” and “Starsky & Hutch” in the ’70s. His television portfolio also includes “M*A*S*H,” “Dallas,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Brookside,” and “Hardball.”

In addition, Ashton was featured in films such as “An Eye for an Eye,” “Midnight Run,” “Little Big League,” and “Some Kind of Wonderful,” among others.

John David Ashton was born on February 22, 1948, in Springfield, Mass. He was a USC graduate where he pursued theater arts. Ashton was not only a remarkable actor but also an enthusiastic reader, golfer, and a fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants, as well as a devoted family man.

“Family was of utmost importance to John,” his family stated.

He is survived by his wife, Robin Hoye, his children Michelle and Michael; stepchildren Courtney, Lindsay, and Ashley; grandson Henry; and siblings Sharon Ann Ashton, Linda Jean, and Edward.

The family announced that a commemorative event will be held at a later date. They suggested that memorial donations in Ashton’s name could be made to Pathways Hospice Care in Fort Collins.