Biography
A burly, mustachioed character actor frequently cast as law enforcement agents or villainous heavies, John Ashton began his acting career on the L. A. stage in the early 1970s after graduating from USC. The New Englander entered films as a police sergeant in "Psychopath" (1973) and went on to be cast as law enforcement agents in such efforts as "Breaking Away" (1979, as Dennis Quaid's older brother), "Borderline" (1980) and the cult favorite …
Career Milestones
2007 | Played a Boston detective in Ben Affleck's feature directing debut "Gone, Baby, Gone" | |
2001 | Appeared in the indie film "Bill's Gun Shop" | |
1997 | Played the father of a gymnast in the Lifetime TV-movie "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes" | |
1994 | Co-starred in "Little Big League" | |
1993 | Starred in ABC miniseries "Stephen King's The Tommyknockers" | |
1989 | Played leading role in the NBC police drama TV series, "Hardball" | |
1988 | Delivered a memorable turn as Robert De Niro's nemesis in "Midnight Run" | |
1987 | Reprised role in "Beverly Hills Cop II" | |
1984 | Breakthrough feature role, the police captain in "Beverly Hills Cop" | |
1980 | Debut as regular on a TV series, reprising film role in "Breaking Away" (ABC) | |
1979 | Played Dennis Quaid's older brother in "Breaking Away" | |
1979 | TV-movie debut, "This Man Stands Alone" | |
| Played recurring roles on "Dallas" and "M*A*S*H*" (both CBS) | ||
1977 | TV debut in a miniseries, "The Rhinemann Exchange" | |
1973 | Feature film debut, "Psychopath" | |
| Joined the Company of Angels Theatre Group | ||
1970 | While appearing with a touring theater troupe from USC, won scholarship to travel abroad; appeared in 15 productions throughout Europe | |
1962 | Professional stage debut at age 14 in small role in production of "Othello" at the Hartford Stage Company | |
1960 | Began acting lessons at age 12 | |
| Born in Springfield, MA and raised in Connecticut | ||