James Handy, veteran actor in Top Gun: Maverick, killed in Tarzana stabbing

James Handy, a veteran character actor with more than 100 film and television credits, was found fatally stabbed in the front yard of a Tarzana home, a death that quickly turned into a murder case with a family member at its center.

Los Angeles police said officers responded around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, to a report of “unknown trouble” at the residence in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood. Handy, 81, had suffered a stab wound to the chest. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators later said the case appeared to be isolated and that there was no further danger to the public.

Police arrested Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, on suspicion of murder. Authorities said Gledhill lived at the home with his mother and Handy. He was booked at Van Nuys Jail, and bail was set at $2 million. Investigators also said Gledhill flagged down responding officers and allegedly told a 911 dispatcher, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”

Handy’s death drew immediate attention because of the breadth of his screen career. He played Jimmy the bartender in “Top Gun: Maverick” and an exterminator in “Jumanji,” and his credits also included “Arachnophobia,” “The Rocketeer,” “The Verdict,” “K-9,” “Point of No Return,” “Unbreakable” and “Logan.” His work stretched across decades of film and television, giving him a familiar face in projects that reached wide audiences.

His talent agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, confirmed the death in a statement: “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.” Fellow actor Dan Lauria described Handy as a veteran and said he “had a rough time in Vietnam,” adding another layer to a career that had long outlasted the roles for which many viewers first recognized him.

Handy’s killing has left a quiet stretch of Tarzana at the center of a case now moving through the criminal justice system. For investigators, the focus is on the relationship inside the home and the events that ended with Handy dead in the yard and Gledhill facing a murder charge.