Beverly Hills Cop star dead at 76

A star of the Beverly Hills Cop films has died, just months after appearing in the long-awaited latest sequel in the franchise.

John David Ashton, the actor who starred opposite Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop, has died at the age of 76.

A rep for Ashton told TMZ that he passed on Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado after fighting cancer.

The Springfield, Massachusetts native appeared in over 200 screen and stage productions during his 50-year career, including three out of four instalments of Beverly Hills Cop beginning in 1984.

Eddie Murphy, John Ashton. Picture: Alamy

His latest turn as Chief John Taggart, the straight man to Murphy’s wisecracking Axel Foley, premiered on Netflix earlier this year. Judge Reinhold starred between the two men as the affable Detective Billy Rosewood.

Ashton (right) reprised his role for this year’s Axel F. Picture: Alamy

(L-R) Judge Reinhold, Eddie Murphy and John Ashton at the premiere of the new film in June. Picture: Leon Bennett/Getty

Ashton’s other credits include M*A*S*H, the 1987 John Hughes comedy-drama Some Kind of Wonderful, starring Lea Thompson and Eric Stoltz, and opposite Robert De Niro in the 1988 action-comedy Midnight Run.

The sports fan later pivoted away from acting to co-host the Ashton and Davis Show on 870 ESPN Radio.

Ashton’s rep Alan Somers also told TMZ, “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.”

Any donation in John’s memory should be made to Pathways Hospice Care in Larimer County, Colorado.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission.