American actor James Handy, known for his supporting roles in popular movies like “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” has passed away due to a fatal stabbing incident, as reported by the Los Angeles police. The suspect in custody is the son of Handy’s girlfriend. Authorities discovered Handy unconscious with stab wounds to his chest outside his residence in Tarzana, Calif., on Wednesday morning. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The accused, identified as Michael Gledhill, 44, resides at the same address with his mother.
Gledhill himself alerted nearby police officers after making a disturbing 911 call stating, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” Handy, a native of New York, enjoyed a prolific acting career spanning six decades, with notable roles such as exterminator Carl Bentley in the 1995 classic “Jumanji” and bartender Jimmy in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick.” His extensive list of nearly 150 film and TV credits includes appearances in TV series like “NYPD Blue,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “CSI: NY,” “The Closer,” and “Cold Case,” along with memorable film roles in “Arachnophobia” (1990), “The Rocketeer” (1991), “K-9,” and “Logan” (2017).
Industry figures have begun to share their condolences, with Handy’s agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, expressing her admiration for his talent and character. Tributes have also poured in from entertainment personalities like Jay Bobbin and writer-producer Don Winslow, who praised Handy’s work on the series “UC: Undercover.” The suspect has been charged with one count of murder, and his bail stands at $2 million US, according to official records.