Actor James Handy ruled homicide, suspect arrested

Actor James Handy, known for his roles in "Jumanji" and "Top Gun: Maverick," died from a stab wound to the torso and neck compression, according to an official report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released on Friday, June 12, 2026. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The 81-year-old actor was found unconscious and suffering from a chest wound in the front yard of a home in the San Fernando Valley on the morning of June 3. Police responded to a 911 call reporting "unknown trouble" and transported Handy to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was arrested and charged with one count of murder with a special allegation of using a deadly weapon, a knife. Gledhill is the son of Handy's longtime girlfriend, Wendy Gledhill, who lived at the residence. According to police, the 911 caller stated, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin." Officials said Gledhill flagged down arriving officers and identified himself as the person they were seeking.

At his arraignment on June 5, Gledhill did not appear, and Superior Court Judge John H. Reid ordered him to be sent to mental health court for...