James Handy, the veteran character actor whose long screen career included roles in Jumanji, Logan, and Top Gun: Maverick, has died after a stabbing in Los Angeles. He was 81.
The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, to a report of “unknown trouble” at a home in the Tarzana neighborhood. According to The Associated Press, officers found Handy unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to the chest. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Variety reported that a representative for the actor confirmed Handy was the person killed in the attack.
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Police Say the Suspect Called 911 Before Officers Arrived
Police identified the suspect as Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s girlfriend. Authorities said Gledhill lived at the same residence with his mother, who was in a relationship with Handy.
The LAPD said the 911 caller told dispatchers, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” When officers arrived, Gledhill allegedly flagged them down and told them he was the person they were looking for.
Gledhill was arrested and booked on suspicion of one count of murder. His bail was set at $2 million. AP reported that it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.
Detectives described the case as an isolated incident and said there did not appear to be any danger to the public, according to the police statement cited by Variety.
Handy Was a Familiar Face Across Film and Television
Handy was never the loudest name on the poster, but many viewers knew his face.
In Top Gun: Maverick, he played Jimmy, the bartender at Penny’s bar. In Jumanji, he appeared as the exterminator. In Logan, he played the doctor who treats Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine after a brutal fight.
His film credits also included Arachnophobia, The Rocketeer, The Verdict, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and K-9.
On television, Handy appeared in a long list of dramas and procedurals, including Alias, NYPD Blue, Melrose Place, Law & Order, NCIS: Los Angeles, Criminal Minds, Cold Case, and The West Wing.
His Agent Remembered Him as Humble and Gracious
Pam Ellis-Evenas of Ellis Talent Group remembered Handy in comments to AP as a talented, humble, and gracious client and friend.
Handy was born in New York City and built a career that stretched across nearly five decades, from early television work to major studio films. Variety reported that his first screen credit was in 1977’s Taps, and AP noted that he continued appearing in film and television for decades.
His final major screen appearance came in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, one of the biggest box-office hits of that year.