Top Gun actor James Handy stabbed to death in Los Angeles; girlfriend's son arrested

Police said actor James Handy was found stabbed in the chest at a Los Angeles home, and his girlfriend's son was arrested. The case centres on a 911 call and the suspect's statement to officers at the scene.

In Short

• Top Gun:Maverick actor James Handy was stabbed to death on Wednesday
• He was found unconscious in the front yard with chest wounds
• The 81-year-old was taken to hospital and later declared dead

Police in Los Angeles have arrested the son of actor James Handy’s girlfriend in connection with the actor’s death after he was found stabbed in the chest, law enforcement said on Thursday. Handy, 81, was known for appearing in films such as Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick.

The Los Angeles Police Department revealed that the officers responded to a home on Wednesday morning after a 911 caller said, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin," as reported by CNN.

Police said officers found Handy in the front yard, unconscious and with a stab wound to the chest. He was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Michael Gledhill, 44, who police identified as Handy’s girlfriend’s son, lives at the home with his mother. According to police, he told officers that he was the person they were looking for.

According to police, Gledhill was booked on suspicion of one count of murder, with jail records showing his bail set at $2 million. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation; jail records do not list an attorney, and the county public defender’s office did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Originally from New York, Handy has built a decades-long career across both film and television. According to IMDb, his notable roles include playing an exterminator in the 1995 film Jumanji and, more recently, appearing as Jimmy the bartender in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. His extensive television credits also include appearances on major crime dramas such as NCIS: Los Angeles, The Closer, and Cold Case.

“I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy,” Pam Ellis-Evenas, from the Ellis Talent Group, said in an email, as reported by Associated Press.

Handy's 2022 theatrical release, Top Gun: Maverick, featured Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro and Val Kilmer in key roles.

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