James Handy, an actor who had appeared in a number of films including Top Gun: Maverick and Logan, has died at the age of 81. His girlfriend’s son was arrested and accused of murder.
A statement by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), shared by Variety, read: “On Wednesday June 3 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.’”
It continued: “Upon their arrival, officers discovered 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard of the residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest. The victim was transported to local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased.
“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. Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time.”
The suspect, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was arrested for one count of murder with $2million bail set. A representative for the actor said: “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.”
Beginning his career in 1977, Handy’s best known roles include Jimmy the bartender in Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, a doctor in 2017 Marvel hit Logan, and an exterminator in the original 1995 version of Jumanji. On TV, he played representative Joe Bruno in political drama The West Wing, Arthur Devlin in the action series Alias, and Captain Jimmy Haverill in NYPD Blue. Top Gun: Maverick would be his final acting credit.