Veteran Actor James Handy Stabbed to Death; Girlfriend’s Son Arrested for Murder

Veteran actor James Handy has died after being stabbed in the chest at his Los Angeles home, with police arresting his girlfriend’s son in connection with the killing.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to a residence on Wednesday morning after receiving a 911 call from a man who reportedly stated: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
When officers arrived, they found the 81-year-old actor unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police identified the suspect as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s girlfriend. Authorities said Gledhill lived at the residence with his mother and allegedly informed officers that he was the person they were seeking.
Gledhill was subsequently arrested and booked on suspicion of one count of murder. Jail records show his bail was set at $2 million.
Authorities said it was not immediately clear whether Gledhill had retained legal representation. Jail records did not list an attorney for him, while inquiries to the county public defender’s office had not yet been returned.
Born in New York, Handy enjoyed a lengthy acting career spanning several decades. He was widely recognized for his role as an exterminator in the 1995 film Jumanji and later portrayed bartender Jimmy in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.
His television credits included appearances in popular crime dramas such as NCIS: Los Angeles, The Closer and Cold Case.
Paying tribute to the late actor, talent representative Pam Ellis-Evenas of the Ellis Talent Group described Handy as an exceptional professional and friend.
“I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy,” she said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Photo Caption: James Handy, seen in The X-Files, was found stabbed to death at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday. (1993 file photo).