Screen veteran James Handy passed away on June 3, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 81. A respected character actor, he built a prolific career spanning nearly five decades, appearing in numerous film and television productions since 1977.
The incident began when a 911 emergency call from a home on Erwin Street in Tarzana alerted authorities to an “unknown trouble” situation. When officers arrived at the scene, James was reportedly found injured outside a residence in the Tarzana area.
Although police officers and emergency medical personnel responded quickly to the scene, he was rushed to the hospital and was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival.
The suspect was identified by authorities as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, who is reportedly the son of James Handy’s girlfriend. According to reports from the LAPD, Gledhill contacted emergency services himself after the incident and informed responding officers that he was the person they were looking for.
Without resistance, he entered custody; murder charges now hang over him, with bail set at $2 million as investigators press on.
James Handy enjoyed an impressive career spanning more than four decades. After making his television debut in Ryan’s Hope in 1977, he maintained a steady presence in the entertainment industry for approximately 45 years, building a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most reliable character actors.
Throughout his long career, Handy appeared in several major box-office hits, including Arachnophobia (1990), where he played the Coroner; The Rocketeer (1991) as FBI Agent Wooly; and the beloved adventure classic Jumanji (1995).
One of my favorite performances of his was in Jumanji (1995), where he played an exterminator who visits the Parrish house after Peter Shepherd, portrayed by Bradley Pierce, believes something strange is lurking inside. The film also stars Kirsten Dunst as Judy Shepherd.
American actor James Handy’s most prominent recent film role was Jimmy the Bartender in Top Gun: Maverick, the blockbuster sequel starring Tom Cruise. His other notable credits include Street to Table (2022), in which he played Flynn; 9-1-1 (2022) as Felix; Senior Entourage (2021) as Father MacGuffin; and Logan (2017), where he portrayed the Old Doctor who treats Hugh Jackman’s character after his brutal first confrontation with X-24.
