BEVERLY HILLS COP’ ACTOR JOHN ASHTON DEAD AT 76

John David Ashton … the actor best known as the hard-nosed, by-the-book detective in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise has died, TMZ has learned.

John died peacefully Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado after a battle with cancer … his rep tells us.

During his 50 years in Hollywood, John appeared in more than 200 film, TV and stage productions … but he arguably became a household name when he co-starred alongside an up-and-coming Eddie Murphy in 1984’s “Beverly Hills Cop.”