Man charged with murder in actor James Handy's stabbing death

A 44-year-old man was charged with murder after actor James Handy was found stabbed in the chest outside a Tarzana home he shared with the suspect’s mother, in a killing police said appeared to be isolated. Handy was 81.

Los Angeles police said officers responded to a report of unknown trouble at the west San Fernando Valley residence on Wednesday morning, June 3, 2026, after a 911 caller said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” When officers arrived on the 19200 block of Erwin Street, they found Handy unconscious outside the home. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

Police identified the suspect as Michael Gledhill, who lived at the house with his mother, Handy’s girlfriend. Investigators said Gledhill later flagged down responding officers and told them he was the person they were looking for. He was booked on suspicion of murder, and bail was set at $2 million. Authorities said no motive had been released as of Friday, and it was not immediately clear whether Gledhill had retained an attorney.

The Los Angeles Police Department said the stabbing did not appear to pose any broader danger to the public. Even so, the case has drawn attention because it unfolded inside a domestic setting, with Handy living in the same home as the suspect and the suspect’s mother.

Handy’s agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas of Ellis Talent Group, confirmed his death and described him as a talented, humble and gracious client and friend. Born in New York, Handy built a decades-long film and television career that included roles in Jumanji, Top Gun: Maverick, Logan and The Rocketeer, along with appearances on NCIS: Los Angeles, The Closer, Cold Case, CSI: New York, NYPD Blue and Law & Order. Fellow actor Dan Lauria remembered Handy as a steady performer and a supportive friend to veterans.

Gledhill was expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court. The case now moves into the court process as investigators continue to examine what led to the fatal stabbing outside the Tarzana home.