American actor James Handy, recognized for his supporting roles in popular films like “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” has passed away due to a fatal stabbing, as reported by the Los Angeles police. Authorities have detained his girlfriend’s son on murder charges. The incident unfolded when officers discovered Handy unresponsive outside his residence in Tarzana, Calif., with stab wounds on his chest. Rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries later. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Michael Gledhill, 44, resides at the same address with his mother, according to law enforcement. Gledhill himself flagged down nearby police officers following a disturbing 911 call where he claimed, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Originally from New York, Handy, with a career spanning over six decades in television and film, was most notably known for his portrayal of exterminator Carl Bentley in the 1995 hit “Jumanji” and his recent appearance in “Top Gun: Maverick” in 2022. In the latter movie, he played bartender Jimmy alongside Penny Benjamin (portrayed by Jennifer Connelly), the romantic interest of Tom Cruise’s character, Lieut. Pete (Maverick) Mitchell. His extensive filmography includes recurring roles in popular crime and drama series like “NYPD Blue,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “CSI: NY,” “The Closer,” and “Cold Case,” among other productions such as “Arachnophobia” (1990), “The Rocketeer” (1991), “K-9,” and “Logan” (2017), as documented on IMDb.
Various industry figures have begun expressing their condolences, with Handy’s agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, praising him as a talented and humble individual. Tributes have also poured in from entertainment personalities like writer Jay Bobbin, who described Handy as a superb character actor. Additionally, writer and producer Don Winslow reminisced about Handy’s exceptional performances in the 2001 series “UC: Undercover,” a show he created and where Handy had a recurring part. Police have confirmed that Gledhill has been charged with murder, with bail set at $2 million US, as per jail records.