James Handy, a character actor renowned for his performances in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, was fatally stabbed on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 81 years old. According to The California Post, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that he was killed by the son of his girlfriend.
Law enforcement officials arrived at the 19200 block of Erwin Street in the Tarzana area of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning after receiving a call in which the caller stated, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Authorities subsequently found Handy in his front yard, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital by paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to dispatch audio, law enforcement had cordoned off the streets surrounding Handy’s residence. The authorities were also instructed to conduct door-to-door inquiries in the vicinity and to “advise who opens and who doesn’t,” as stated in the audio.
Michael Gledhill arrested
Michael Gledhill, 44, was apprehended and taken to Van Nuys Jail. He faces a charge of murder, with his bail set at $2 million, as per the jail records acquired by PEOPLE.
Handy was born in New York City and appeared in numerous significant films and television series. His extensive list of credits includes Jumanji, Arachnophobia, Unbreakable, Logan, NYPD Blue, Rizzoli & Isles, Alias, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Criminal Minds. His last appearance on screen was in Top Gun: Maverick in 2023.
What was James Handy’s net worth?
While information regarding Handy’s net worth remains limited, some local media outlets have estimated that the actor’s net worth ranged from $1 million to $3 million. The actor did not attain leading-man status in Hollywood, but he established a lengthy and successful career as a well-respected character actor in both film and television.
His income was primarily derived from acting roles, residuals from television appearances, and film projects that spanned nearly five decades.
His portrayal of bartender Jimmy in Top Gun: Maverick introduced him to a new generation of moviegoers and marked one of the last significant credits of his career.
