John Ashton, famous for playing Detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” movies, has sadly passed away at the age of 76. Now, his family has a special request.
Keep reading to learn more.
John Ashton died peacefully in Ft. Collins, Colorado, this past Thursday. His family and friends are heartbroken over his loss.
He passed away after bravely fighting cancer, according to his representative, Alan Somers. Somers shared that Ashton’s legacy is one of “love, dedication, and service,” and his family will continue to celebrate his life. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and more.
To honor the late actor’s life and legacy, the family is asking for donations to be made to Pathways Hospice Care in his memory.
Ashton was a well-known name in Hollywood for over 50 years, lighting up screens with more than 200 film, TV, and stage performances. While fans loved many of his roles, it was his portrayal of the straight-laced detective alongside Eddie Murphy’s wild cop character, Axel Foley, that made him a household name.
Ashton’s character, Detective Billy Rosewood, provided the perfect contrast to his co-star’s character, adding energy and humor to the films.
The film was a major success and established Ashton’s name in Hollywood. In July of this year, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” premiered. In an interview, Ashton revealed that the film had taken 20 years to make before finally being released.
He mentioned there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the film, to the point that he had given up on the idea and moved on to other projects. By the time he received a call about the film, he was already working on another project in Chicago.
After finishing his film, he went to L.A. to meet director Mark Molloy. Ashton knew that the film could only move forward if Murphy approved the script.
He said he knew he could fully commit to the project when Murphy greenlit the script and Jerry Bruckheimer joined as a producer.
In addition to his iconic role in “Beverly Hills Cop,” Ashton also had notable appearances in the show “M*A*S*H” and played Eric Stoltz’s father in the John Hughes comedy-drama “Some Kind of Wonderful.”
He started his career at a young age, with his first professional role in a production of “Othello” at the Hartford Stage Company. He later toured the world in various theater productions.
Ashton received great recognition for his acting, including an LA Method Fest award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Once Upon a River.”
He also appeared in several films, including “Death in Texas” (2020), “American Christmas” (2019), and “My Little Baby” (2019), among others.
Beyond his career, he was a devoted family man. He leaves behind his wife of 24 years, Robin Hoye, and his children, Michelle and Michael Thomas Ashton.
He is also survived by his stepchildren, Courtney Donovan, Lindsay Curcio, and Ashley Hoye, as well as his grandson Henry, his sisters Sharon Ann Ashton and Linda Jean Ashton, and his brother Edward Richard Ashton.
I Became a Millionaire after My Sons Kicked Me Out
Imagine being thrown out by your own sons only to end up a millionaire. That’s exactly what happened to me after my boys left me with nothing.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My husband, Todd, and I wanted our twins, Cole and Elijah, to become doctors. We were uneducated and lived on a ranch, but we worked hard for our boys’ education. After Todd died in a buffalo stampede, I even became a maid to fund their schooling.
Years later, a wealthy rancher tempted my boys to sell our land. “We’ve decided to take up John’s offer, Mom,” Cole told me at dinner one evening.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“But we really need that money, Mom,” my other son argued.
I was adamant and still refused.
So the next day, they threw me out, claiming the land was in their names. My siblings wouldn’t help, so I had to go to a homeless shelter. Thankfully, the shelter became my new family. I also found solace working as a maid for Mr. Williams. He was an elderly businessman, who not only paid me well but also listened to my worries.
One day, the inevitable happened: Mr. Williams passed away in his sleep. I was shocked to learn he left me his fortune, but there was a condition: I couldn’t share the millions with my kids or siblings — the people who abandoned me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My boys, realizing I was wealthy, asked for money. But I refused. My new family in the shelter deserved the support, not the sons who abandoned me in my time of need. Always remember that if you disrespect your parents, you only deserve disrespect in return.
Moving on, let’s see what surprise life had in store for Amanda and her grandmother, Natalie.
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