Top Gun actor James Handy dies after stabbing outside his Los Angeles home – Manchester Evening News
Veteran actor James Handy, best known for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Jumanji, and numerous television shows, has died at the age of 81 following a stabbing incident in the Tarzana area of Los Angeles.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers responded to a 911 call on the morning of June 3, 2026. When they arrived at a residence on Erwin Street, they found Handy unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police said the suspect, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, identified himself to responding officers and was taken into custody. Authorities stated that Gledhill is the son of Handy’s girlfriend and lived at the same residence. He has been charged with one count of murder and is being held on $2 million bail.
Investigators believe the incident was isolated and have said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
A representative for Handy confirmed the actor’s death, expressing sadness over the loss of the respected performer.
Throughout a career that spanned nearly five decades, Handy appeared in many well-known films. Audiences may remember him as the bartender in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), the exterminator in Jumanji (1995), and for roles in Logan, Arachnophobia, The Rocketeer, The Verdict, and K-9.
On television, he was known for playing Arthur Devlin in Alias and also appeared in recurring roles on Melrose Place and NYPD Blue. Born in New York, Handy began his screen career in 1977 and became a familiar face across film and television.
His passing marks the end of a long and successful acting career that touched generations of viewers.
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