American actor James Handy, known for his roles in the popular movies Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, has tragically passed away after being involved in a stabbing incident, according to the Los Angeles police department. The suspect in the case, identified as Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder. Police officers discovered Handy unconscious outside his residence in Tarzana, California, on Wednesday morning with serious stab wounds to his chest. He was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
Michael Gledhill, aged 44, resides at the same residence as Handy along with his mother, as confirmed by law enforcement officials. Following a disturbing 911 call where Gledhill claimed, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” he alerted nearby police officers to the incident.
James Handy, who was originally from New York, had a successful acting career spanning over six decades, with notable roles such as exterminator Carl Bentley in Jumanji and bartender Jimmy in Top Gun: Maverick. His extensive filmography includes appearances in renowned TV series like NYPD Blue, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI:NY, The Closer, and Cold Case, among others. With close to 150 film and TV credits to his name, Handy’s talent and versatility were widely appreciated in the entertainment industry.
Pam Ellis-Evenas, Handy’s agent, expressed her deep sorrow at the loss of her talented and humble client, highlighting Handy’s exceptional qualities. Tributes have been pouring in from various industry members, including entertainment writer Jay Bobbin and writer-producer Don Winslow, who acknowledged Handy’s remarkable contributions to the series UC: Undercover.
Following the tragic incident, the accused, Michael Gledhill, has been officially charged with one count of murder, with bail set at $2 million US, according to official jail records.