Actor John Ashton, Taggart from 'Beverly Hills Cop' has died

Actor John Ashton, famous for his role as John Taggart in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' series, has died at the age of 76.

TMZ broke the bad news, confirming that the singer had died of cancer in Ft. Collins, Colorado, United States.

John Ashton is leaving us behind a legacy of more than half a century of acting, with participation in more than 200 productions in theatre, film, and television.

In his more than 50-year career, John Taggart's role brought him global fame.

The actor appeared in three of the four films in the saga starring Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), the last of which was released in 2024 on Netflix ('Axel F').

Interestingly, many people wondered how old the actor was when he first played Taggart (1984). They couldn't figure out how old he was because makeup had added 40 years to his appearance in the first installment.

The truth is that he was 36 years old, but 36 years old in the 80s didn't look the same as 36 years old today.

Judge Reinhold, the Rosewood detective in the saga, was one of the first celebs to say goodbye to his friend and co-worker.

"Forty years of laughs on screen and off. John LIVED his life! My brother, my partner, my Sarge - I love you. There's no sm0king in heaven, John," the actor commented on Instagram.

Photo: Judge Reinhold / Instagram

Beyond Taggart, John Ashton also played parts in films such as 'Midnight Run' (1988) with Robert de Niro and in series like 'M*A*S*H' (1977). He was a Hollywood veteran.

Despite all his other appearances, many viewers will believe that it was one of Axel Foley's two faithful companions in arms and adventures who has passed away from the world.

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