HOLLYWOOD, CA – 1989: Actor and co-star of the hit films “Beverly Hills Cop”, John Ashton, poses … [+] during a photo portrait session in Hollywood, California in 1989. Ashton also starred in “Midnight Run” and “M*A*S*H.” (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
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John Ashton, the actor who reached the pinnacle of his career playing Detective John Taggart in Le flic de Beverly Hills film franchise, died Friday at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, after a battle with cancer. He was 76 years old.
Born February 22, 1948 in Springfield, Massachusetts, John Ashton’s early films included An eye for an eye (1973), Break away (1979), Limit (1980), Autoroute Honky Tonk (1981), et Last resort et The king king lives, both in 1986.
Ashton bowed on television in episodes of dramas Kojak, Emergency! et Columbo in 1974, and built his acting resume with subsequent appearances in series like Phyllis, detective story, Barnabe Jones, Policewoman, Wonder Woman, CRUSHet Starsky et Hutch. In 1978, Ashton made the first of six appearances as Willie Joe Garr in dallas. And, in 1984, he rose to fame in the original film Film Le Flic de Beverly Hills facing Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold.
LOS ANGELES – DECEMBER 5: The film “Beverly Hills Cop”, directed by Martin Brest. Seen here from … [+] left, John Ashton as Det. Sgt. John Taggart, Eddie Murphy as Det. Axel Foley and Judge Reinhold as Det. William ‘Billy’ Rosewood. First theatrically released on December 5, 1984. Screenshot. Primordial images. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
CBS via Getty Images
Ashton went on to star in three of the remaining four Le flic de Beverly Hills films, more recently in Le flic de Beverly Hills : Axel Fthe sequel released last summer on Netflix.
Previously, he had a regular role in the detective series Hardballaired during the 1989-90 television season.
Ashton’s other film roles are included Kind of wonderful (1987), Midnight Race (1988), I want to go home (1989), Little Big League (1984), In living years (1994), Hidden Assassin (1995), What he defends (1996), Meet the Deedles (1998), Instinct (1999), Sweet mortal dreams (2006), Men in the middle (2009) et Uncle John (2015).
Ashton is survived by his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye; children Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton; stepchildren Courtney Donovan, Lindsay Curcio and Ashley Hoye; grandson Henri; sisters Sharon Ann Ashton and Linda Jean Ashton; and his brother Edward Richard Ashton.
