James Handy Dead: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Actor Killed
James Handy, a longtime actor who appeared as a bartender in “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jumanji” and had guest-starring roles on dozens of TV shows, was killed Wednesday in a stabbing in Los Angeles’ Tarzana neighborhood. He was 81. The LAPD said he was killed by his girlfriend’s son.
“On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call about unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.’ Upon their arrival, officers discovered 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard of the home, unconscious and with a stab wound to his chest. The victim was transported by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect flagged down nearby officers and told them he was the one they were looking for. The suspect lives at the location with his mother, the victim’s girlfriend,” the police statement said.
“Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there does not appear to be any danger to the public at this time,” the police statement said.
The suspect, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was arrested and booked into the Van Nuys Jail on one count of murder with bail set at $2 million.
A representative for the actor said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and murdered in Tarzana on Wednesday was the actor James Handy.”
In addition to his role in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” Handy appeared in 2017’s “Logan” as the doctor who treated Hugh Jackman. In 1995’s ‘Jumanji’, Handy played the exterminator, while in ‘Arachnophobia’ he played Milton Briggs. His other film appearances include ‘The Rocketeer’, ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’, ‘The Verdict’ and ‘K-9’.
On television, Handy played Arthur Devlin in eight episodes of ‘Alias’ and had recurring roles on ‘Melrose Place’ and ‘NYPD Blue’.
A native of New York, Handy got his first film credits in 1977’s “Taps.”
