A man has been charged with murder in the stabbing of veteran character actor James Handy, who appeared in films such as Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick. The suspect, Michael Gledhill, 44, is the son of Handy's romantic partner.
Details of the Incident
Police found Handy, 81, stabbed in the chest and unconscious outside his Los Angeles home on Wednesday. He was taken to a hospital but later died from his injuries. Gledhill was arrested after allegedly telling police, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin," according to authorities.
Court Proceedings
Gledhill did not appear at an arraignment on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, and no plea was entered. Judge John H. Reid ordered that Gledhill be sent to mental health court for psychological evaluations. Another judge will determine if he is competent to stand trial. Gledhill's attorney, Javier Trincado, said the sheriff's department decided not to bring him to court but did not explain why. Bail was set at $2 million.
Career of James Handy
Handy, born in New York, built a decades-long career as a character actor in film and television. He was known for his role as an exterminator in the 1995 film Jumanji and as bartender Jimmy in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. He also appeared in popular TV crime dramas such as NCIS: Los Angeles, The Closer, and Cold Case.
Pam Ellis-Evenas of the Ellis Talent Group expressed her grief, saying, "I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy."
