The Beverly Hills Cop franchise roared back to life in 2024 with Netflix's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, bringing Eddie Murphy's iconic Detective Axel Foley back to the big screen. But while Murphy reprised his career-defining role, the rest of the original cast has taken wildly different paths—from retirement and politics to Emmy-nominated TV stardom and, sadly, death.
Eddie Murphy: From Detroit Cop to Hollywood Legend
Eddie Murphy, now 65, has remained a towering figure in entertainment. After Beverly Hills Cop (1984) made him the biggest comedy star of the decade, he went on to headline Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, and the Shrek franchise, earning an Academy Award nomination for Dreamgirls in 2007. In April 2026, the American Film Institute honored him with its 51st Life Achievement Award, cementing his legacy.
Murphy's Axel Foley was originally written for Sylvester Stallone, but Murphy's comedic improvisation transformed the character into a wisecracking, street-smart cop who could outwit Beverly Hills' finest. The actor has since appeared in all four Beverly Hills Cop films, including the 2024 sequel.
Judge Reinhold: The Only Constant Besides Murphy
Judge Reinhold, now 69, is the only actor besides Murphy to appear in every Beverly Hills Cop film. His Detective Billy Rosewood evolved from a nervous rookie to a seasoned officer, and Reinhold returned for Axel F in 2024. Reflecting on his first meeting with Murphy, he told ComicBook: "The odd way we met was at a… club in the first one. That was our first day of work, and we were thrown together at this little table with some beer… We were really thrown together. As awkward as that was, it just worked."
Before the franchise, Reinhold had already impressed in Stripes and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but Axel Foley's partner became his most enduring role.
John Ashton: A Career of 200 Roles, Ending Too Soon
John Ashton, who played the gruff Sergeant John Taggart, died on 26 September 2024 at 76, just months after returning for Axel F. His career spanned over 50 years and 200 film and TV credits, including Midnight Run, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Gone Baby Gone. In his final year, he told CBR: "You know, when it first started happening, I got a little upset because I had done so many other things… As the years have gone on, I kind of really enjoy it now. There aren't too many actors that can put a stamp on a role that will be with them for eternity."
Ashton skipped Beverly Hills Cop III but returned as police chief in Axel F, giving fans a poignant farewell.
Lisa Eilbacher: Retired at 39, Never Looked Back
Lisa Eilbacher, now 70, played Jenny Summers, Axel's childhood friend, in the original film. She never appeared in any sequel, leading to speculation about a feud. Murphy clarified to USA Today: "Everyone who was alive − well, except for Lisa Eilbacher, who is very much still alive − but everyone else, we brought them back." Eilbacher simply retired from acting in 1995 after her final credit, the TV film 919 Fifth Avenue, choosing a life away from Hollywood.
Ronny Cox: Still Singing at 88
Ronny Cox, 88, played Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil, the skeptical police chief who warms to Foley. He appeared in the first two films but not the third. Cox, who made his film debut in Deliverance, also played memorable villains in RoboCop and Total Recall. Today, he tours as a singer-songwriter, with performances scheduled through 2026 and 2027.
Steven Berkoff: Villain Turned Playwright
Steven Berkoff, 88, played Victor Maitland, the art dealer drug lord. He later starred in Rambo: First Blood Part II and built a second career as a playwright and theatre director, adapting Kafka's The Trial. In 2026, he is attached to film adaptations of his stage works Shakespeare's Heroes & Villains and Tell-Tale Heart.
James Russo: From Gravedigger to Tarantino
James Russo, 73, played Mikey Tandino, whose murder kicks off the plot. Before acting, he drove cabs and dug graves while studying at NYU. He went on to appear in The Cotton Club, Once Upon a Time in America, and Django Unchained. His recent credits include Tulsa King, Run, and Silent Partners (all 2025).
Jonathan Banks: The Henchman Who Became a Legend
Jonathan Banks, 79, played Zack, Maitland's henchman who kills Mikey. Decades later, he found his defining role as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, earning six Emmy nominations and a 2022 Saturn Award. Banks had previously worked with Murphy in 48 Hrs. and earned an Emmy nod for Wiseguy in 1989.
Stephen Elliott and Gilbert R. Hill: The Bosses Who Left Us
Stephen Elliott, who played Chief Hubbard, died in 2005 at 86. A founding member of The Actors Studio, he earned a Tony nomination for Marat/Sade and won a Drama Desk Award. Gilbert R. Hill, who played Inspector Douglas Todd, was a real Detroit police officer before acting. He died in 2016 at 84 after a political career on the Detroit City Council, even running for mayor in 2001. Hill appeared in all three original Beverly Hills Cop films.
Who Else Returned for Axel F?
Besides Murphy, Reinhold, and Ashton, Axel F brought back Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. Reiser's Jeffrey, Axel's Detroit pal, appeared in the first two films and the 2024 sequel. Pinchot's flamboyant art gallery employee Serge became a fan favorite, returning for the new movie.
The Legacy Lives On
The Beverly Hills Cop cast has seen triumph, tragedy, and quiet retirement. Eddie Murphy remains a Hollywood icon, Reinhold stays tethered to the franchise, and the late Ashton and Hill left behind unforgettable performances. As the franchise continues to resonate with new generations, the original cast's impact on comedy and action cinema endures.
