James Handy, 81, died after an incident in Los Angeles that police say followed a 911 call. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating, and a 44-year-old man—described as the adult son of Handy’s girlfriend—has been arrested and charged with murder. Ha
James Handy’s front yard became a scene of shock on Wednesday, June 3, after police say he was found unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it is investigating the incident after receiving a 911 call on the morning of June 3. In a department release, the caller reportedly confessed and said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
When officers arrived, Handy was found in the front yard of his girlfriend’s home, where her adult son lived, police said. He was pronounced dead at an LA hospital shortly after.
Michael Gledhill, 44, has been arrested and charged with one count of murder, according to Los Angeles police. Police said Gledhill flagged down officers and indicated he was the person they were looking for. His bail is set at $2 million.
Handy was widely recognized for film roles that spanned decades. He appeared in “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick. ” and played coroner Milt Briggs in the 1990 hit dark comedy-horror film “Arachnophobia.” He also played Jimmy. a bartender. in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick. ” made appearances as an exterminator in the original 1995 “Jumanji. ” appeared as a doctor in 2017’s “Logan. ” and took a priest role in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2000 film “Unbreakable.”.
In other projects. he was the FBI agent “Wooly” Wolinski in the 1991 Disney war-era superhero film “The Rocketeer. ” and played Lieutenant Roger Byers in the buddy cop comedy “K-9” (1989) and its sequel. “K-911” (1999). On television, he portrayed CIA Director Arthur Devlin in three seasons of the J. J. Abrams thriller “Alias,” from 2002 to 2006, and played Lou Handleman on ABC’s crime drama “Profiler” from 1997 to 1998.
Handy was born in New York City and spent 45 years acting. “Top Gun” was his last credit, and he also produced and starred in the 2022 drama “Street to Table.”
For now, investigators are working through the circumstances that led to the stabbing and Handy’s death. The case adds to the uncertainty families and friends are left carrying after celebrity tragedies—where the public recognizes the face. but the details arrive through police timelines. charges. and the waiting that comes after a 911 call.
James Handy death LA police stabbing Michael Gledhill murder charge Arachnophobia Jumanji Top Gun: Maverick celebrity death investigation
What the heck, how does a 911 call even turn into a stabbing in a front yard?!
They said the caller confessed but then it’s the “son of man” like some weird Bible thing? I’m confused. Also 81 years old getting stabbed is just insane…
I thought the guy who got arrested was the girlfriend’s kid, but the article also says he flagged down officers? Like did he do it and then call it in himself? That part seems backwards to me.
RIP James Handy, I remember him from Arachnophobia and I swear I saw him in Top Gun too. But why was he even in the front yard of his girlfriend’s home with the 44-year-old adult son there, like that’s the part they don’t explain. The $2 million bail sounds like a lot but also… murder is murder, so whatever. Sad either way, just hate that it always turns into waiting for police timelines.