Beloved character actor John Ashton has died at the age of 76, it has been confirmed. The prolific star of stage and screen, who made memorable turns in the likes of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise and Midnight Run during a career that spanned over half a century, passed away on Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado after a short battle with cancer.
News of Ashton's passing was shared by a rep of the actor, who issued the following statement: “John was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. 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.”
And it was certainly quite some impact. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on 22 February, 1948 to Edward Richard Ashton Sr. and Eva May Ashton, John David Ashton attended Enfield High School and Ohio's Defiance College before eventually studying at USC's School of Theatre, where he graduated with a BA in Theatre Studies. Before long, Ashton began to book roles on shows like Dallas, Ko__jak, M*A*S*H, and Starsky & Hutch on the small screen, making eye-catching appearances on the big screen also in films such as Larry Brown's 1973 horror The Psychopath and Carl Reiner's proto-Bruce Almighty religious satire Oh, God!.
It was with his turn as Chief John Taggart in 1984 Eddie Murphy action comedy Beverly Hills Cop that Ashton found the role he would arguably go on to be best known for. Irascible yet ultimately good-hearted and principled, Ashton's Taggart provided the perfect foil for Murphy's Axel Foley and Judge Reinhold's Detective Billy Rosewood. Unsurprisingly, the character's return earlier this year in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F was met with real warmth, reminding fans of the unique thrill of seeing Ashton pumping a shotgun once more.
Elsewhere, there were no shortage of further memorable Ashton performances that underlined the unique craft of the character actor. As Eric Stoltz' father in John Hughes penned 1987 teen classic Some Kind Of Wonderful, Ashton subverts the otherwise conventional 'overbearing dad' archetype and sells Cliff Nelson as a man who cares deeply about his son's future. Less than a year later, he held his own opposite Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin as foul-mouthed, chain-smoking bounty hunter Marvin Dorfler in iconic buddy comedy Midnight Run. And, throughout the 90s and 00s, if Hollywood needed a man of authority — be it pitching coach (Little Big League), park ranger (Meet The Deedles), or gruff detective (Gone Baby Gone) — then Ashton had it covered.
In recent years, Ashton continued to pop up regularly on our screens in films such as Lonesome Soldier, All Happy Families, and Death In Texas, whilst earlier genre fare such as The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai In The Fifth Dimension, Instinct, and Dolph Lundgren vehicle The Shooter remain a recurring feature in conversations about Ashton's rich, triple-digit filmography.
Ashton will be remembered for his impeccable comic timing, his immense work ethic, and his withering on-screen stares, and is survived by his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye, as well as his children Michelle Ashton and Michael Thomas Ashton, his stepchildren Courtney Donovan, Lindsay Curcio and Ashley Hoye, and his grandson Henry. He will be missed, and our thoughts are with his friends, family, and loved ones at this time.