Hollywood actor James Handy stabbed to death, girlfriend's son arrested

Hollywood actor James Handy stabbed to death, girlfriend's son arrested

Veteran Hollywood actor James Handy, known for his roles in 'Jumanji' and 'Top Gun: Maverick', has been stabbed to death at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 81.

Police said Handy was found unconscious in the front yard of his home in the Tarzana area of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, June 3, with multiple stab wounds to the chest. He was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call in which the caller reportedly said, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin" .

Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy's girlfriend, was arrested at the scene. According to police, Gledhill resides at the home with his mother, who is the actor's girlfriend . When officers arrived, Gledhill reportedly approached them and identified himself as the person they were looking for.

Gledhill has been booked on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail . He has been ordered to undergo psychological evaluations to determine his competency to stand trial .

Handy's longtime friend, actor Brian Delate, told the Associated Press that Handy had mentioned in passing over the past couple of years that his girlfriend's son had mental health problems . The motive for the attack remains under investigation.

Born in New York, James Handy built an extensive career spanning nearly five decades, appearing in close to 150 screen credits across film and television . He was known for his role as an exterminator in the 1995 film 'Jumanji' and more recently as bartender Jimmy in the 2022 blockbuster 'Top Gun: Maverick' . He also appeared in TV crime dramas including 'NYPD Blue', 'Law & Order', 'NCIS: Los Angeles', 'The Closer' and 'Cold Case' .