‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Actor James Handy Tragically Murdered by Partner’s Son
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, James Handy, a veteran film and television actor known for his roles in blockbusters such as Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, alongside dozens of television series, was tragically killed in a stabbing incident in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday. He was 81 years old. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that he was murdered by his domestic partner’s son.
In an official statement regarding the incident, the LAPD stated: “On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at around 9:30 AM, West Valley Area patrol officers responded to a radio call of an unknown dispute in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the guilty man.’ Upon arrival, officers located 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard, unresponsive and suffering from a stab wound to the chest. The victim was transported by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The suspect flagged down arriving officers and identified himself as the person they were looking for. The suspect resided at the location with his mother, who is the victim’s domestic partner.”
The police statement further noted: “Detectives believe this to be an isolated domestic incident and there is no active threat to the public.”
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was arrested and booked at the Van Nuys Jail. He is currently being held on a heavy $2 million bail on one count of murder. A spokesperson for the late actor also released a statement, confirming with deep regret: “It is with great sadness that I confirm the elderly man attacked and killed in Tarzana on Wednesday was actor James Handy.”
A Prolific Career on Screen
In addition to portraying a bartender in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, James Handy appeared in the 2017 film Logan as the doctor who treats Hugh Jackman’s character. He also played the exterminator in the nostalgic 1995 hit Jumanji and Milton Briggs in Arachnophobia. His other notable film credits include The Rocketeer, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Verdict, and K-9.
The actor was equally prolific on television. He appeared in eight episodes of the hit series Alias as CIA Director Arthur Devlin, and held recurring roles in popular shows such as Melrose Place and NYPD Blue.
Born in New York, Handy made his professional feature film debut in 1981, playing a sheriff in the military drama Taps.
