Life and career

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ashton attended Defiance College in Ohio and is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Theatre. He attended Enfield High School in Enfield, Connecticut.

Ashton has made numerous appearances in both television and feature films. He played 'Willie Joe Garr' on several episodes of Dallas, his character and that of 'Jeb Ames' were charged with the crime of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Tina Louise's Dallas character "Julie Grey". Ashton also appeared in an episode of Columbo: Negative Reaction and in episode 5 of Police Squad!, "Rendezvous at Big Gulch (Terror in the Neighborhood)", as one of the henchmen who attacked the locksmith shop.

Ashton also starred as Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the first two movies of the popular Beverly Hills Cop trilogy, alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold, and appeared as Eric Stoltz's character's father in the John Hughes-penned comedy-drama Some Kind of Wonderful. In 1988, he co-starred in the action-comedy Midnight Run as a rival bounty hunter to Robert De Niro's character. He also starred in the 1994 film Little Big League with Luke Edwards, and appeared in a supporting role in the acclaimed 2007 drama Gone Baby Gone directed by Ben Affleck.

Ashton has stated that he would be willing to reprise his roles in the rumored Beverly Hills Cop IV and Midnight Run II productions. He guest-starred opposite Beverly Hills Cop co-star Ronny Cox in an episode of Matthew Perry's 2011 series, Mr Sunshine.

Personal life

Ashton married his first wife Victoria Marie Runn in 1968 and they divorced in 1970. He married his second wife Bridget Baker-Ashton in 1976 and they divorced in 2001. Ashton has two children—one by each of his ex-wives. Ashton currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is co-host of the Ashton and Davis Show on 870 ESPN radio.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]