Veteran American actor James Handy, widely recognized for his appearances in acclaimed films including Top Gun: Maverick, Jumanji, and Logan, has died at the age of 81.
His death followed a fatal stabbing incident at his residence in Los Angeles. According to information released by the Los Angeles Police Department and cited by The Guardian, officers responded to the property at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, where they discovered Handy unconscious with several stab wounds to his chest.
Authorities subsequently detained Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s longtime girlfriend, on suspicion of murder.
Officials confirmed that Gledhill’s bail has been fixed at $2 million. Investigators said a person who called 911 identified himself as “the son of man” before admitting: “I just killed the man of sin.” Police also stated that when officers reached the scene, Gledhill allegedly informed them that he was “the one they were looking for.”
Born in New York City, Handy launched his acting career in 1977 with a role on the television drama Ryan’s Hope.
Throughout a career that spanned decades, he built a strong presence in both television and film, earning credits in popular series such as Law & Order, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Criminal Minds, as well as movies including K-911.
His most recent screen appearance came in Tom Cruise’s 2022 hit film Top Gun: Maverick, in which he portrayed Jimmy, a bartender.
Over the years, Handy became known for a number of memorable supporting performances.
He portrayed Wilton Briggs in the horror-comedy Arachnophobia (1991), played Woolly in The Rocketeer (1992), appeared as the exterminator in Jumanji (1995), and later took on the role of a physician credited as “Old Doctor,” who treats Hugh Jackman’s Logan/Wolverine in the superhero film Logan (2017).
