James Handy, the actor best known for roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, has died at the age of 81. Handy, who also appeared in NYPD Blue, was found dead in Los Angeles following a fatal stabbing.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the actor was found unconscious in his front yard, with multiple stab wounds to the chest. Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy's girlfriend, has been charged on suspicion of murder.
"On Wednesday June 3 2026, around 9:30am, West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street," began the statement from the LAPD (via The Hollywood Reporter).
"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 residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest.
"The victim was transported to [a] local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them [that] he was the one they were looking for."
What to Read Next
"The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim's girlfriend. Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time," the statement concluded.
Handy's career began in 1977 with an appearance in soap opera Ryan's Hope, with his big-screen debut coming four years later in military thriller Taps, which also starred Tom Cruise, Sean Penn and Giancarlo Esposito.
Handy's final film also featured Cruise, with the actor playing bartender Jimmy in Top Gun: Maverick. In 2017, the actor starred in superhero drama Logan as well as George Clooney's Suburbicon, and had a role in the original Jumanji film from 1995.
On the small screen, Handy is perhaps best known for his role as Captain Jim Haverill in police procedural NYPD Blue, while has also had roles in Melrose Place and Beverly Hills, 90210.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
