Who is John Ashton?
For those unfamiliar with Beverly Hills Cop, a little about John Ashton. He is most famous for playing the endearing Sergeant John Taggart to Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley in this celebrated ‘80s comedy. Although his character on the show was out for the count, Ashton was only about 36 years old when he landed this pivotal role in his acting career as Officer Taggart.
Career and Acting Journey of John Ashton
Ashton became a household name throughout the reign of the 80s, progressing from Beverly Hills Cop (1984) to Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987.
The two movies were smashing successes at the box office with over $300 million earned globally between the both of them. The character of Sergeant Taggart, which was presented in a very endearing way by Ashton, was loved for his sassy humor mixed with some gruff exterior. Even though he’ll complain the entire time, that’s the guy who you want to have your back in a tight spot.
Post-Beverly Hills Cop mania, Ashton went on to play a few Shakespearean roles and starred opposite Robert De Niro in Midnight Run (1988) and let’s not forget about Some Kind of Wonderful (1987).
Apart from movies, Ashton kept laboring on the small screen playing a variety of character roles in popular TV shows like The A-Team and Murder, She Wrote, solidifying his image as a tough man with the mind of a sniper.
John Ashton, Net Worth
His estimated net worth was at $3 million in 2024. Even though he wasn’t among the top earners of his time, his career brought him a decent living as an actor. He had in the range of $200,000 to $500,000 pay for every movie he’d do in his peak years in the 80s and 90s. And the fact that he’s part of Beverly Hills Cop means that like most actors, he also receives those regular residual checks which come out to an extra $100,000 to $200,000 per year. It’s special that way to make money, especially when it means your project was done so long ago.
John Ashton Age
Poised to hit 76 in 2024, we know that John Ashton isn’t going to be the person pulling the trigger and chasing the bad guys in a movie. Moreover, looking at him now we can confirm that he is still the vibrant healthy John Ashton we all identify. And he won’t be appearing as a retired cop again on screen. He gets to enjoy his retirement without guilt. Here’s to hoping that one of those ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ rebooted films will have a part for him.