The 81-year-old character actor was found wounded outside a home after a 911 call, authorities said.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Actor James Handy, a veteran character performer known for roles in “Jumanji,” “Logan” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” died Wednesday after he was stabbed outside a home in Tarzana, police said.
Los Angeles police said 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, was arrested after officers found Handy unconscious in the front yard of a residence in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood. The case drew attention Thursday after authorities identified the victim as Handy, 81, whose long career included film roles, network dramas and recurring television appearances.
Officers were sent about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to the 19200 block of Erwin Street after a 911 call reporting trouble at the home, police said. The caller made a statement about killing someone, according to authorities. When officers arrived, they found Handy suffering from a stab wound to the chest. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said Gledhill flagged down responding officers and told them he was the person they were seeking.
Police said Gledhill lived at the home with his mother, who was Handy’s girlfriend. Investigators have not released a motive. Authorities said the killing appeared to be an isolated incident and did not describe any continuing threat to the public. Gledhill was booked on suspicion of murder, and bail was set at $2 million. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Handy worked steadily for decades in movies and television, often playing police officers, officials, doctors and men in authority. His screen credits included “Arachnophobia,” “The Rocketeer,” “Unbreakable,” “Logan” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” in which he played Jimmy. He also appeared in “Jumanji” as an exterminator. On television, he had roles in “NYPD Blue,” “Profiler,” “Alias,” “The West Wing,” “Criminal Minds,” “Melrose Place” and other series.
The stabbing happened in Tarzana, a residential Los Angeles neighborhood in the west San Fernando Valley. Police said the investigation is being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, Valley Section. Detectives were reviewing the 911 call, the scene at the home and statements gathered after the arrest. Authorities had not announced additional arrests as of Friday.
Representatives for Handy confirmed his death after authorities publicly identified him. The actor’s death brought fresh notice to a career built largely on supporting parts that placed him beside major stars and in familiar television dramas. Police released few details about the moments before the stabbing, leaving unanswered whether there had been an argument or other incident inside the home before Handy was found outside.
Gledhill remained in custody as the case moved toward review by prosecutors. Police said detectives were still seeking information from anyone with knowledge of the stabbing. The next major step is a charging decision and initial court proceedings in Los Angeles County, where murder cases are reviewed after an arrest and booking.
Author note: Last updated June 5, 2026.