James Handy, the Hollywood character actor known for his roles in films such as Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, has been found stabbed to death at his Los Angeles home.
His girlfriend’s son has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police responded to a 911 call at a property in Tarzana, in San Fernando Valley, at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and found Handy, 81, unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to his chest.
He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, who lived at the residence with his mother, has since been arrested.
Gledhill was taken into custody and booked at a Van Nuys jail.
Handy made his film debut in 1981 and also appeared in such well-known movies as Bird, Arachnophobia, The Rocketeer, Logan and Suburbicon.
He also made a string of appearances in popular TV shows like Quantum Leap, Murder She Wrote, Melrose Place, NYPD Blue, The X Files, The West Wing and Alias.
Hollywood actor James Handy fatally stabbed at Los Angeles home
James Handy, the actor known for roles in films such as Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, was stabbed to death at a Los Angeles home on Wednesday, police said. He was 81.
The Los Angeles police said officers from its West Valley division responded to a 911 call indicating “unknown trouble” at a property in Tarzana, in San Fernando Valley, at around 9.30am local time on Wednesday.
They found Handy unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police identified the suspect as Michael Gledhill, 44.
Investigators said he lived at the property with his mother, whom they described as Handy’s girlfriend.
Police said Gledhill approached officers responding to the scene and “told them he was the one they were looking for.”
Gledhill was arrested and booked at the Van Nuys jail on suspicion of murder.
Shahana Yasmin has this report.
Joe Sommerlad5 June 2026 08:45
Good morning
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the tragic death of American actor James Handy, who was fatally stabbed at his Los Angeles home Wednesday.
Police have since arrested the son of his girlfriend.
Joe Sommerlad5 June 2026 08:35
