James Handy, the legendary actor most well known for starring in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, has died. He was tragically murdered by his girlfriend's son in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on June 3, according to Variety.
The LAPD released a chilling statement about the incident. "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."
According to the police, the 911 caller stated "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin." When they arrived on scene, they found James Handy unconscious in the front yard of the residence. He was tragically found with a stab wound to the chest."
The suspect immediately "flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them he was the one they were looking for. The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim's girlfriend," the statement explained.
Handy was taken to hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was later found dead.
The suspect was named as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill. He was arrested and taken in at Van Nuys Jail, where his bond sits at $2 million. He has been charged with murder.
While Handy was most well known for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, he was also known for starring in The Rocketeer, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and The Verdict.
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Tributes Have Poured in for the Legendary 'Top Gun: Maverick' Actor
Tributes have poured in for James Handy after his tragic passing.
According to the BBC, Don Winslow, the creator of UC: Undercover, where Handy also appeared, wrote that "we were honoured to have him on UC: Undercover in a recurring role. His performances were always special."
Fans also wrote touching tributes to the Top Gun: Maverick star. One person wrote, "One of those actors you've seen everywhere even if you didn't know the name."
Another wrote, "Rest in peace to a face so many people recognized from iconic films over the years."
This is a truly shocking case. We hope that his family gets justice.
