‘Top Gun’ actor stabbed to death by girlfriend’s son

American actor James Handy, known for his roles in ‘Jumanji’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ has been found dead in his Los Angeles home, police say.

The 81-year-old Handy was found unconscious in the front yard of his home in Tarzana, California, on Wednesday (June 3). He had multiple stab wounds to his chest.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said Handy’s girlfriend’s son, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A man called 911 and told police, “I’m a human being, I just killed a sinful human being.” Officers rushed to the scene after the call.

Born in New York, James Handy has appeared in many films and television shows over more than six decades. Most of the time, he has been seen in supporting roles or in guest roles in a few episodes.

Although he has rarely had the opportunity to play leading roles, he has been seen in acting for a long time in his career. Some of his notable works include 'NYPD Blue', 'K-9', 'Law & Order', 'Logan', 'Castle', 'The West Wing', 'The X-Files and Murder' and 'She Rot'.

James Handy's last film was 'Top Gun: Maverick' in 2022. In this film, he played the role of 'Jimmy', a bartender who works with Jennifer Connelly, who plays Tom Cruise's girlfriend.

Expressing his condolences over the death of the actor, entertainment writer Jay Bobin said, "I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of this wonderful character actor."

Don Winslow, the writer and producer of the 2001 crime drama series "UC: Undercover," in which Handy also starred, described Handy as a "tremendous actor."

After Handy's death, police said that the suspect, Gledhill, himself alerted officers on duty nearby and told them he was the man they were looking for.

"The suspect lived at the residence with his mother, who was the deceased actor's girlfriend. Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there is no reason for the general public to be concerned."

After his arrest, Gledhill was transferred to the Van Nuys Jail and charged with murder. His bail is currently set at $2 million (about £1.5 million).

Source: BBC