Beverly Hills Cop star Judge Reinhold has paid tribute to his longtime friend and colleague John Ashton, who has passed away at 76 following a battle with cancer.

Ashton, a Massachusetts native, died two months after the premiere of Netflix's "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," which saw him reunite with Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold 40 years af

John Ashton, known for playing John Taggert in Beverly Hills Cop and three sequels, has died. He was 76. Ashton died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colorado, after a brief battle with cancer, his manager, Alan Somers, told The Hollywood Reporter .