‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ ‘Midnight Run’ actor John Ashton dies at age 76

John Ashton, a renowned quality histrion champion known for his prima turns arsenic the reluctant but yet accommodating Chief Taggert successful the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise, has died.

He was 76.

The “Midnight Run” histrion died of cancer, a rep told TMZ. Ashton died Thursday successful Fort Collins, Colorado, according to a connection from his household connected Sunday done his manager, Alan Somers.

Among Ashton’s astir celebrated roles was his portrayal of Detective Sergeant John Taggart, the consecutive antheral for Eddie Murphy’s fictional Detroit cop, Axel Foley, who gets mixed up successful shenanigans successful Beverly Hills arsenic helium tries to lick his puerility champion friend’s murder. Judge Reinhold arsenic Billy Rosewood rounded retired the trio.

There was nary shortage of hilarious Taggart moments, and fans instantly began posting clips of their favourite scenes successful tribute. There was that celebrated sucker punch to Foley’s stomach erstwhile they archetypal conscionable astatine the presumption house. And of people the banana successful the tailpipe. Then the 1 wherever Taggart falls into the pool arsenic he’s hollering astatine Foley to get retired of it.

Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

American actors Eddie Murphy, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold and Ronny Cox connected the acceptable of Beverly Hills Cop II, directed by Tony Scott. (Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

All that was conscionable successful the archetypal movie. Two sequels followed, “Beverly Hills Cop II” successful 1987 and “Beverly Hills Cop III” successful 1994. Thirty years aft its 1984 release, the three-movie franchise released a 4th incarnation, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” connected Netflix successful April, successful which Ashton again reprised his role.

In “Some Kind of Wonderful” Ashton played Eric Stoltz’s father, and helium competed against Robert De Niro’s rival bounty huntsman successful “Midnight Run” alongside Charles Grodin.

Ashton was ubiquitous connected some large and tiny screen, arsenic helium showed up successful galore tv bid from the 1970s to the ’aughts, from “Kojak” to “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” among dozens of others, successful a vocation spanning much than 50 years.

His survivors see his woman of 24 years, Robin Hoye, arsenic good arsenic 2 children and 3 stepchildren, a member and 2 sisters, and a grandson.

“John leaves down a bequest of love, dedication, and service. His representation volition everlastingly beryllium treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, arsenic good arsenic his brother, sisters, his extended household and each who loved him. John’s interaction connected the satellite volition beryllium remembered and celebrated for generations to come,” the household connection read.

With News Wire Services