Actor James Handy Dies at 81 Following Stabbing Incident in Tarzana

Veteran character actor James Handy has died at the age of 81 following a stabbing incident at his Tarzana, California home.

The LAPD responded to a call around 9:30am on Wednesday, June 3, discovering Handy unconscious with a chest wound at a residence. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

According to reports, the 911 caller stated: "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."

Michael Gledhill, 44, has been identified as the suspect. Gledhill, who lived at the home with Handy and his mother—Handy's girlfriend—flagged down police when they arrived at the scene and identified himself as the person responsible. He has been arrested and booked on suspicion of murder, with bail set at $2 million.

Handy launched his on-screen career in 1981 with an appearance in Taps, going on to build a prolific resume spanning decades of film and television work. His television credits include recurring roles on shows like Melrose Place, NYPD Blue, Profiler, The West Wing, Alias, and A Dangerous Life.

His film appearances encompassed roles in Arachnaphobia, K-9, Logan, and the original Jumanji, in which he portrayed an exterminator. Most recently, Handy appeared in Top Gun: Maverick, playing Jimmy, the bartender at Penny's establishment.