James Handy, a longtime actor who appeared as the bartender in “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jumanji” and had guest roles on dozens of TV shows, was killed Wednesday in a stabbing in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 81. The LAPD said he was killed by his girlfriend’s son.
“On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.’ Upon their arrival, officers discovered 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard of the residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest. The victim was transported to local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them he was the one they were looking for. The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim’s girlfriend,” the police statement read.
“Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time,” the police statement said.
The suspect, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was arrested and booked at Van Nuys Jail for one count of murder with $2 million in bail.
A rep for the actor said, “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.”
In addition to his role in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” Handy appeared in “Logan” in 2017 as the doctor who treated Hugh Jackman. In 1995’s “Jumanji,” Handy played the exterminator, while in “Arachnophobia,” he played Milton Briggs. His other film appearances included “The Rocketeer,” “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “The Verdict” and “K-9.”
On television, Handy played Arthur Devlin in eight episodes of “Alias” and had recurring roles on “Melrose Place” and “NYPD Blue.”
Born in New York, Handy had his first screen credit in 1977’s “Taps.”
