Veteran American character actor James Handy, whose decades-long career included memorable small roles in blockbuster films like *Jumanji* and *Top Gun: Maverick* and dozens of hit television series, has been killed in a stabbing at his Los Angeles-area residence, law enforcement officials confirmed this week. Handy was 81 years old.
First responders from the Los Angeles Police Department were dispatched to Handy’s home in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday, after an emergency 911 call from the property. The caller, who identified himself as the son of Handy’s girlfriend, told dispatchers “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” according to police reports. When officers arrived at the scene, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the caller, flagged them down immediately and admitted to the killing, investigators said.
Handy was found unconscious in the front yard of the home, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest. Gledhill, who lives at the property with his mother (Handy’s long-term girlfriend), was taken into custody at the scene without incident. LAPD investigators have stated the killing appears to be an isolated event, with no ongoing risk to the surrounding public.
Following his arrest, Gledhill was transferred to the Van Nuys Jail, where he has been booked on a single charge of murder. His bail has been set at $2 million, equal to roughly £1.5 million.
Born in New York, Handy built a consistent, respected six-decade career in Hollywood, almost exclusively as a supporting character actor across film and television. Though he rarely landed lead roles, his resume of credits reads as a survey of American popular media from the past 60 years. He made guest and recurring appearances on iconic crime and drama series including *NYPD Blue*, *Law & Order*, *The X-Files*, *Murder, She Wrote*, *CSI: NY*, *Alias*, *Castle*, *NCIS*, and *The West Wing*. On the film side, he held small roles in cult and blockbuster releases including *Arachnophobia*, *K-9*, *Logan*, *Jumanji*, and his final big-screen credit, 2022’s global hit *Top Gun: Maverick*, where he portrayed Jimmy, a bartender working alongside Jennifer Connelly’s character, the love interest of Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
News of Handy’s death has prompted tributes from across the entertainment industry. Entertainment journalist Jay Bobbin said he was heartbroken by the passing of what he called a “superb character actor.” Don Winslow, the best-selling author and producer who created the 2001 police procedural *UC: Undercover*, which featured Handy in a recurring role, called the performer a “terrific actor.” “We were honoured to have him on *UC: Undercover* in a recurring role,” Winslow said. “His performances were always special.”