Veteran actor James Handy, known for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, was stabbed to death on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) in the Tarzana neighborhood of the Los Angeles. According to Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the suspect in the killing is Michael Gledhill, the 44-year-old son of Handy’s girlfriend.
Police officers responded to a call of a possible disturbance in Tarzana on Wednesday morning (June 3, 2026). Upon arrival, they discovered Handy in the front yard of a residence with a serious stab injury to his chest. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to a report by Variety, the LAPD said in a statement, “On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.’”
The statement further said, “Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time.”
Police believe that the suspect Michael Gledhill, 44, who is the son of Handy’s girlfriend, stabbed the veteran actor. Gledhill, who lived with his mother and Handy, was later arrested and booked into Van Nuys Jail on a murder charge, with bail set at $2 million.
A rep for the actor was quoted by Variety as saying, “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.”
James Handy has appeared in several films, including Logan, The Rocketeer and K-9 as well as television shows such as Melrose Place and NYPD Blue.
