Police say a suspect — the son of Handy’s girlfriend — has been arrested and booked on one count of murder.
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James Handy in ‘Jumanji’.Credit: Netflix
James Handy, the veteran actor known for his work in such films as Top Gun: Maverick, Jumanji, and Logan, was fatally stabbed Wednesday morning at a home in Los Angeles, according to police. He was 81.
Authorities said in a news release Thursday that a suspect is in custody, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, who is the son of Handy’s girlfriend.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, West Valley area patrol officers responded to a call regarding unspecified trouble in the Tarzana neighborhood around 9:30 a.m. The 911 caller reportedly stated, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Handy was found in the front yard of the home, 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.
Police alleged Gledhill flagged down nearby responding officers and identified himself as the person they were looking for. He was arrested and taken to Van Nuys Jail, where he was booked on one count of murder, with bail set at $2,000,000. Information about Gledhill’s legal representation was not immediately available.
Handy’s agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, confirmed his death in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
“With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.”
No other statement was planned.
Handy’s acting credits dated back to 1977, when he appeared on two episodes of Ryan’s Hope. Throughout the ’80s, he was a guest star on TV shows such as Cagney and Lacey, Spenser: For Hire, and Matlock. His film work during that time included Taps and The Verdict.
He later appeared in movies such as Arachnophobia and The Rocketeer, as well as a long list of popular series, including Alias, The West Wing, Melrose Place, NYPD Blue, The Practice, Walker, Texas Ranger, and the Young and the Restless.
