Veteran actor James Handy, known for his roles in films such as “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jumanji,” tragically lost his life on Wednesday in a stabbing incident in Los Angeles’ Tarzana neighborhood. He was 81 years old. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that his death was caused by his girlfriend’s son.
According to the police, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., officers from the West Valley area responded to a distress call from the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller reportedly said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” Upon arrival, officers found 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard, unconscious with a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced dead. The suspect, who lives with his mother at the residence and is the victim’s girlfriend’s son, approached officers and identified himself as the individual they were seeking.
Police investigators consider this to be an isolated event and assure the public that there is no ongoing threat.
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was taken into custody and charged with one count of murder. His bail is set at $2 million and he is being held at Van Nuys Jail.
A representative for Handy confirmed, “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.”
Handy’s film career includes a role in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” and appearances in films like “Logan” as a doctor treating Hugh Jackman, and in “Jumanji” as an exterminator. He also featured in “Arachnophobia,” “The Rocketeer,” “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “The Verdict,” and “K-9.”
On television, Handy was known for his portrayal of Arthur Devlin in eight episodes of “Alias” and had recurring roles in series such as “Melrose Place” and “NYPD Blue.”
Born in New York, Handy’s first screen credit was in the 1977 film “Taps.”
