Judge Reinhold Pays Tribute To His Beverly Hills Cop Pal John Ashton After His Death: ‘There’s No Smoking In Heaven, John’

As a gamer who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, John Ashton was an integral part of my childhood, especially with his iconic role as Detective John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop films. The news of his passing felt like losing a dear friend, someone I’ve known for decades through the TV screen.

The “seasoned police detective with a gruff demeanor,” a familiar character type, may never be outshone in skillful portrayal than by John Ashton. Although Ashton boasted almost 100 acting credits throughout his career, he is most likely to be fondly remembered as Detective John Taggart from the Beverly Hills Cop series alongside Judge Reinhold and Eddie Murphy. Sadly, we learned of Ashton’s passing yesterday, and now his screen partner shares memories of him.

John Ashton sadly passed away last Thursday, though the news didn’t become widely known until over the weekend. After the announcement was made, Judge Reinhold – who portrayed Billy Rosewood, Ashton’s partner in the “Beverly Hills Cop” film series – expressed his farewell to his friend on Twitter and shared some behind-the-scenes photos from the set of the recent “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” project.

Reinhold playfully suggests that “heaven is a smoke-free zone,” which seems to hint at similarities between him and Ashton, both known for their fondness of cigars. Taggert appears to share this preference, as suggested by the comment and one of the photos here. However, if smoking isn’t allowed in heaven, then what’s its purpose?

If Ashton sadly passed away while watching his beloved team, it appears to be a tranquil farewell, something everyone could wish for. Reinhold refers to Ashton as his brother, an apt term for two individuals who have collaborated for four decades. It’s well-known that Reinhold and Murphy have stayed close throughout the years, suggesting that they also shared a strong bond.

Many fans commenting on Reinhold’s post express similar sentiments. Fans of “Beverly Hills Cop” are thrilled that, if nothing else, we all had the chance to witness the reunion of the legendary trio consisting of Taggart, Rosewood, and Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley one final time. Unfortunately, Ashton Kutcher declined to appear in the third film, contributing to why “Beverly Hills Cop III” isn’t as well-regarded as its predecessors. This summer, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” became available on Netflix for everyone to enjoy. Critical reception towards “Axel F” has been generally more favorable.

For nearly decades, efforts were made to produce a fourth “Beverly Hills Cop” movie, but the project consistently hit roadblocks. Given how close we came to never seeing this film, it’s delightful that they managed to bring it to life. Making the movie now would be even more challenging, and without Ashton Kutcher, the film certainly wouldn’t have felt complete.

2024-09-30 18:09

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