Profile Text
Ashton at the “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” Los Angeles Premiere, Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, CA. 05-17-10, s_bukley /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: John David Ashton
Date of Birth: February 22, 1948
Place of Birth: Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Death: September 26, 2024
Place of Death: Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, Welsh, German, Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
John Ashton was an American actor. His roles included the films Breaking Away , Borderline (1980), Honky Tonk Freeway , Beverly Hills Cop , and its sequels; Last Resort (1986), King Kong Lives , Some Kind of Wonderful , She’s Having a Baby , Midnight Run , I Want to Go Home (1989), Little Big League , Trapped in Paradise , Instinct (1999), Gone Baby Gone , Middle Men (2009), Uncle John , and Death in Texas ; and the series Hardball . He was also billed under his full name John David Ashton.
He was the son of Eva May and Edward Richard Ashton. His father was born in Oxnard, Ventura County, California. His mother was born in Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa. John was partly raised in Enfield, Connecticut. He was married to Robin Hoye, until his death. He had one child with his former wife Victoria Marie Runn; and one child with his former wife Bridget Alison Baker.
John’s paternal grandfather was John Henry Ashton (the son of Richard Ashton and Annie Jones/Janes). John’s grandfather John was born in Trefeglwys, Powys, Wales. Richard was the son of Richard Ashton and Mary Jernan. Annie was the daughter of William Jones and Anne.
John’s paternal grandmother was Eva Mae Nolte (the daughter of Edward F. Nolte and Annie/Anna Belle Thomson/Thompson). Eva was born in Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa. Edward was born in Muscatine, the son of German parents, Chris/Christian Nolte and Anna/Johanna/Hannah Eichoff. John’s great-grandmother Anna was born in Muscatine, the daughter of George W. Thompson, who was of Irish origin; and of Hannah P. Churchill.
John’s maternal grandfather was Howard Jay Wells (the son of Samuel N. Wells and Luella/Louella Reed). Howard was born in Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa. Samuel was born in Oakland County, Michigan, the son of William Wells and Mary E. Edmund/Edmonds, whose father was English. John’s great-grandmother Luella was born in Muscatine County, the daughter of Charles F. Reed and Elizabeth Palmer.
John’s maternal grandmother was Mada Florence Gordy (the daughter of Laferty/Lafayette Marquis/E. Gordy and Grace Alberta Hunter). Mada was born in Missouri. Lafayette was the son of Hiram Gordy and Harriet M. Morton. Grace was the daughter of Albert G. Hunter and Amanda Ann Foley.
Sources: https://www.nytimes.com
Genealogy of John Ashton – https://www.findagrave.com
Marriage announcement of John’s parents – https://www.newspapers.com
Marriage records of John’s paternal grandparents, John Henry Ashton and Eva Mae Nolte – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of John’s mother – https://www.sandhfuneralservice.com
Marriage records of John’s maternal grandparents, Howard Jay Wells and Mada Florence Gordy – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org
