Actor James Handy, known for his roles in “Jumanji,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Taps,” was killed in a violent stabbing allegedly carried out by his girlfriend’s son, according to police, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Authorities said the fatal incident occurred Wednesday morning in the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana after officers received a deeply disturbing 911 call. The caller reportedly told dispatchers, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” prompting an immediate police response.
When officers arrived at the residence, they found 81-year-old Handy lying unconscious in the front yard, suffering from multiple stab wounds to his chest, police confirmed.
Sad news in Hollywood: Veteran actor James Handy, known for playing the bartender in Top Gun: Maverick and the exterminator in Jumanji, has died at 81.
He was fatally stabbed in the chest outside a home in Tarzana, CA. Police say the suspect is his girlfriend’s 44-year-old son,… pic.twitter.com/47ydgnqmjx [2]
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) June 5, 2026 [3]
Emergency personnel transported Handy to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Not long after, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, identified by authorities as the son of Handy’s girlfriend, allegedly approached nearby officers and told them he was responsible for the killing.
A statement from the Los Angeles Police Department said Gledhill was living with his mother at the time of the attack.
Gledhill was arrested and charged with murder. His bail has been set at $2 million, police said.
Authorities have not released additional information about what may have led to the stabbing or the moments leading up to the attack.
Handy, whose extensive career began in the 1970s, had nearly 150 acting credits listed on IMDb.
His recent work included playing a bartender named Jimmy in “Top Gun: Maverick” and an exterminator in the 1995 film “Jumanji,” which starred Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, and Jonathan Hyde.
In addition to film work, Handy made numerous television appearances on well-known series such as “The West Wing,” “9-1-1,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “CSI: NY,” “The Young and the Restless,” “Castle,” “Criminal Minds,” “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” “ER,” “The X-Files,” and “Mulaney.”
Investigators have described the ongoing probe as active, and police did not provide any details about the 911 caller’s motive beyond the statement heard on the call.
Actor James Handy, 81, Dead After Brutal Stabbing in California
Veteran actor James Handy, known for roles in Jumanji, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Verdict, was stabbed multiple times in the chest outside a home in Los Angeles County.
He was found unconscious and rushed to the… pic.twitter.com/HspRFhY5Df [4]
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) June 5, 2026 [5]
The tragic event has drawn shock from Hollywood contemporaries and fans who remember Handy as a respected and enduring presence across film and television.