American actor James Handy, known for roles in films and television series including Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, has been killed in Los Angeles, police said. Handy, 81, was found unconscious in the front garden of his home in Tarzana, California, on Wednesday, June 3, with multiple stab wounds to the chest. He was pronounced dead after emergency responders were called to the scene.
Los Angeles police said Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, was arrested on suspicion of murder. According to police, officers responded after someone called emergency services about an “unknown trouble” and made a statement claiming responsibility for the killing. When officers arrived, Gledhill allegedly approached them and said he was the person they were looking for.
Handy was born in New York and built a long career across six decades in film and television, often appearing in supporting roles or in brief guest appearances. He accumulated credits in a wide range of crime dramas and other popular series, including Third Watch, K-9, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Alias, Castle, NCIS, The West Wing, Arachnophobia, The X-Files, and Murder, She Wrote.
His most recent film role was in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, where he played Jimmy, a bartender who worked with the character portrayed by Jennifer Connelly, the love interest of Tom Cruise’s character. Although he was rarely a lead actor, Handy was widely regarded as a dependable character actor with an extensive screen résumé.
Tributes followed news of his death. Entertainment writer Jay Bobbin said he was heartbroken by the loss of a “great actor,” while writer and producer Don Winslow, who created the 2001 crime drama UC: Undercover, praised Handy as a “fantastic actor” and said it had been an honor to cast him in a recurring role. Winslow added that Handy’s performances were always special.
Police said Gledhill lived at the property with his mother, who was Handy’s girlfriend. Investigators described the case as an isolated incident and said there did not appear to be any ongoing threat to the public. After his arrest, Gledhill was booked into Van Nuys Jail and charged with murder. Bail was set at $2 million.
