John Ashton has died aged 76-years-old as tributes flood in. Famed for his role as Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' series, the star, who shared the screen with Eddie Murphy, died "peacefully" at home on 26 September. TMZ reported that a rep confirmed the news as Ashton died at his home in Ft.
Collins, Colorado. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ashton kicked off his acting journey after graduating from the University of Southern California School of Theatre. His first film role was Sgt.
Matthews in the 1973 horror flick 'The Psychopath'. He then appeared in 'Honky Tonk Freeway' and 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension', before landing his iconic role in the buddy cop franchise back in 1984. Post the 1987 sequel, Ashton worked with Robert De Niro in 'Midnight Run' and played an American director in the French comedy 'I Want to Go Home'.
More recently, he featured in 2007's 'Gone Baby Gone' and the 2016 thriller 'Uncle John', reprising his role as Taggart in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' earlier this year. Ashton had wrapped up filming for 'Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2', and 'Hot Bath, Stiff Drink, an' a Close Shave' was in post-production at the time of his passing. The Hollywood legend had a prolific television career spanning five decades, with notable roles in 'Hardball' and 'Dallas', as well as portraying the father of a real-life kidnap victim in the biopic 'I Know My First Name Is Steven'.
Some of his last TV appearances .