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Veteran U.S. actor James Handy was stabbed to death on Wednesday in the front garden of his Tarzana home in Los Angeles following a domestic dispute. The 81-year-old actor was recognized for his roles in blockbusters like Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick.
According to a BBC report, authorities have arrested Michael Gledhill, the 44-year-old son of Handy's girlfriend, on suspicion of murder after he confessed to the crime at the scene.
Responding to an emergency call reporting "unknown trouble," Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived at the residence. During the call, the dialer had delivered a cryptic confession to dispatchers: "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."
Upon arrival, officers discovered Handy unconscious in his front yard, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest.
Gledhill, who lived at the property with his mother and Handy, immediately flagged down the arriving police units, identifying himself as the suspect they were looking for. Investigators have emphasized that this was an isolated domestic incident and presents no ongoing threat to the public.
Gledhill has since been booked for one count of murder at the Van Nuys Jail, with bail set at $2 million.
Handy’s death marks the end of a prolific career spanning over 60 years. While rarely cast as the leading protagonist, the New York-born performer established himself as a highly reliable supporting character actor, accumulating an extensive list of television and film credits.
His television portfolio included prominent appearances on NYPD Blue, Law & Order, The West Wing, The X-Files, CSI: NY, and NCIS.
On the big screen, he was featured in Arachnophobia, Logan, and most recently, 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, where he portrayed Jimmy, a bartender working alongside Jennifer Connelly's character.
Following the news of his passing, figures from across the entertainment industry expressed their grief.
Entertainment writer Jay Bobbin stated he was "heartbroken to learn about the passing of a superb character actor." Meanwhile, writer and producer Don Winslow, who worked with Handy on the 2001 drama UC: Undercover, remembered him as a "terrific actor" whose performances were always special.
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