Los Angeles police charged Michael Gledhill with murder after character actor James Handy, known for roles in Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, was found stabbed outside his home and later died at the hospital.
Authorities charged 44‑year‑old Michael Gledhill with murder Friday after police found 81‑year‑old actor James Handy stabbed in the chest and unconscious outside a Los Angeles home on Wednesday. Handy was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Gledhill, who reportedly lives with his mother, was arrested after telling officers he was the person they were seeking; police say a 911 caller told dispatchers, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” Gledhill was expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court, with bail set at $2 million.
Handy had a long career as a character actor in film and television. Born in New York, he appeared in the 1995 film Jumanji as an exterminator and played bartender Jimmy in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick. His TV credits included roles on NCIS: Los Angeles, The Closer and Cold Case, among other crime procedurals. Industry representative Pam Ellis‑Evenas of the Ellis Talent Group described Handy as a “talented, humble and gracious” client and friend.
It was not immediately clear whether Gledhill had retained an attorney; jail records listed no lawyer and the county public defender’s office had not responded to requests for comment. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing and have not released further details about a motive.
