An American actor who, after a long apprenticeship in schlock cinema, effectively switched to a second career in primetime TV series production, Ashley began his acting career in the late 1950s when he essayed roles in such less-than-memorable films (mostly for American International Pictures) as "Hot Rod Gang" (1958), "Suicide Battalion", "Frankenstein's Daughter" and "How to Make a Monster" (all 1958). Continuing with AIP into the 60s he played second leads in several of the studio's "beach party" movies, including "Muscle Beach Party", "Bikini Beach" (both 1964) and "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965), which co-starred his wife at that time, Deborah Walley.
After working with director Eddie Romero on "Brides of Blood" (1968) and "Beast of Blood" (1970), Romero and Ashley began to co-produce such modest films as "Beyond Atlantis", "Twilight People" (both 1973) and "Savage Sisters" (1974), most of which starred Ashley and were directed by Romero. As representatives of Hemisphere distributors, the duo also had a hand in the production of Francis Ford Coppola's decidedly more ambitious "Apocalypse Now" (1979). More recently, Ashley has teamed with Frank Lupo as executive producer of TV movies and adventure series, achieving their greatest success with "The A-Team", a program typical of the straightforward genre entertainment which has characterized Ashley's career.
Significant Others
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Wife: . Ashley's second; mother of his younger son; survived him
Education
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Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, business administration, BA, 1955
Milestones
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1956 Acting career began with work at the Tulsa Little Theatre
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1956 Appeared on several segments of Ziv-produced television series, "Men of Annapolis"
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1956 Met John Wayne through fraternity brother on the set of "The Conqueror"; led to interview with producer at Ziv Television
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1957 Drafted into the US Army; served for six months
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1957 Made screen debut in "Dragstrip Girl" for American International Pictures (AIP)
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1957 Played first lead, in "Motorcycle Gang"
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1961 Starred as Clipper Hamilton, one of the co-owners of a racing car garage, in ABC adventure series, "Straightaway"
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1963 Played the supporting role of Hermy in what is probably his most notable screen credit, "Hud"
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1972 First credit as producer (with Eddie Romero), "Black Mama, White Mama", directed by Romero
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1979 Moved with second wife and their son from Oklahoma back to California; settled in San Fernando Valley
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1979 Served as representative (with Eddie Romero) for Hemisphere distributors on Francis Ford Coppola's acclaimed Vietnam war epic, "Apocalypse Now"
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1982 Produced short-lived ABC adventure series, "The Quest"
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1988 Executive produced (with Frank Lupo) short-lived NBC science-fiction series, "Something Is Out There"
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1995 Produced the short-lived UPN series "Marker"
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1997 Was producer on "Lawless" (Fox); show cancelled after initial airing
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Acted as producer and executive producer (with Frank Lupo) of popular NBC action series, "The A-Team"
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Executive produced (with Frank Lupo) Fox TV's thriller series, "Werewolf"
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Executive produced (with Frank Lupo) NBC police drama, "Hardball"
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For one season, co-executive produced "Walker, Texas Ranger", starring Chuck Norris
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Had recurring role on TV sitcom, "The Beverly Hillbillies", as on of the suitors of Ellie May Clampett (Donna Douglas)
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Moved back to Oklahoma in the 1970s to oversee chain of theaters he had bought; also spent much time in The Philippines producing low-budget features
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Moved to Los Angeles after finishing college, planning to continue studies at UCLA
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Raised in Missouri
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Was executive producer of the latenight CBS series "Raven"