James Handy, who featured in the beloved Nineties film Jumanji and most recently, Top Gun: Maverick, was fatally stabbed to death on Wednesday. The actor was 81.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspect as his girlfriend’s son, Michael Gledhill, a 44-year-old resident of Tarzana.
Handy’s death was confirmed by a representative. “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy,” his talent agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, said in a statement to NBC News.
On Wednesday, June 3, at around 9:30 a.m., officers responded to a radio call in Tarzana. The 911 caller stated, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” When officers arrived, they discovered Handy in the front yard of his home, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest. He was transported to local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The suspect flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them he was the one they were looking for. The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim’s girlfriend,” the LAPD said in their statement. “Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time.”
Gledhill was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder. His bail was set at $2 million.
Along with his performances in the 2022 Top Gun sequel as a bartender and Jumanji, where he played an exterminator, Handy also appeared in Nineties films Arachnophobia and The Rocketeer. The actor also had roles in several television shows as well, including NYPD Blue, Beverly Hills, 90210, Law and Order, and The Young and the Restless.