Actor James Handy stabbed to death in Los Angeles

Actor James Handy, a veteran character actor whose credits included “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Jumanji” and “NYPD Blue,” was stabbed to death Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, authorities said. He was 81.

Los Angeles police arrested Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, on suspicion of murder after officers found Handy unconscious in the front yard of a home in Tarzana, a neighborhood in the northwest part of the city.

Police said officers responded around 9:30 a.m. after a 911 call reporting trouble at the home. The caller told police, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

When officers arrived, Gledhill flagged them down and was “telling them he was the one they were looking for,” police said. The LAPD said Gledhill lived at the home with his mother, who was Handy’s girlfriend.

NBC News reported that officers found Handy with a stab wound to his chest. The BBC reported that police said Handy had several stab wounds to the chest. He was found in the front yard, described by the BBC as the front garden of his home.

Gledhill was arrested and booked on one count of murder, police said. He was taken to Van Nuys Jail, and his bail was set at $2 million, the BBC reported. NBC News, citing online jail records, reported that he remained in custody Thursday night. Online court records did not show a case for Gledhill at that time, and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf, NBC News reported.

Police described the stabbing as an isolated incident and said there appeared to be no danger to the public.

Handy’s death was confirmed by his talent agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas.

“With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy,” Ellis-Evenas said in a statement.

Born in New York, Handy built a long career over six decades, often appearing in supporting roles or in a small number of episodes on television series. His most recent film role was in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” in which he played Jimmy, a bartender who works with the character played by Jennifer Connelly, Tom Cruise’s love interest.

Handy also appeared in the films “Arachnophobia,” “Jumanji,” “K-9” and “Logan,” in which he played a doctor in the 2017 movie about the X-Men character Wolverine. His television credits included “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “CSI: New York,” “NYPD Blue,” “Law & Order,” “Alias,” “Castle,” “NCIS,” “The West Wing,” “The X Files” and “Murder, She Wrote.”