Veteran Hollywood actor James Handy, known for roles in Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, has died after being stabbed at a residence in Tarzana, California.
Authorities confirmed that a 44-year-old man, identified as Michael Gledhill, has been arrested in connection with the incident. Police said Gledhill is the son of Handy’s romantic partner and also resides at the same home.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers responded to a distress call at a property in the San Fernando Valley on Wednesday morning following reports of a violent incident.
A 911 caller allegedly told dispatchers, “I am the son of man. I just killed the man of sin,” according to police.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, Handy, aged 81, was found unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Police added that the suspect later approached officers voluntarily and admitted involvement in the attack before being taken into custody. He was booked on suspicion of murder at Van Nuys Jail, with bail set at $2 million.
Handy, born in New York, began his acting career in 1977 and built a decades-long career in film and television. He was widely recognised for his role as an exterminator in the 1995 blockbuster Jumanji and as bartender Jimmy in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), starring Tom Cruise.
Over his career, he appeared in numerous productions including Arachnophobia and popular TV series such as NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI: NY, NYPD Blue, and L.A. Law.
