Top Gun: Maverick actor James Handy ‘stabbed to death by his girlfriend’s son’ as

Actor James Handy, who has appeared in numerous films including Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, was brutally stabbed to death in the front yard of his home on Wednesday.

His girlfriend’s son, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, later allegedly told officers he was the suspect they were looking for, and he was arrested for the actor’s murder.

The chilling chain of events began when Los Angeles police said they received a disturbing call at around 9.30am Wednesday. 

‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,’ the caller told police.  

Officers then raced to Handy’s home on Erwin Street in Tarzana, where they found the 81-year-old unconscious in the front yard and suffering from at least one stab wound to his chest.

Handy was then rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Actor James Handy was found brutally murdered in his front yard on Wednesday

Officers raced to Handy’s home on Erwin Street in Tarzana, where they found the 81-year-old unconscious in the front yard and suffering from at least one stab wound to his chest

Surveillance footage from the scene caught a man casually walking past the suburban home

Surveillance footage from the scene later showed a man casually walking past the suburban home.

Authorities say the suspect later allegedly flagged down the responding officers, and told them he is the one they were looking for. 

Investigators say Gledhill lived at the home with his mother, but a motive for the stabbing remains unclear. 

Gledhill is now being held on a $2 million bond.

Handy was born in New York City and made his first on-screen appearance in 1977’s Taps in ABC’s Ryan’s Hope that same year. 

Evidence markers were erected outside Handy’s home following his murder on Wednesday

The actor most recently appeared alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick

Handy’s other film credits include an appearance in Logan as the doctor who treated Hugh Jackman’s titular character

He most recently appeared in Top Gun: Maverick as the bartender, Jimmy.

Handy’s other film credits include an appearance in Logan as the doctor who treated Hugh Jackman’s titular character, and in the 1995 hit Jumanji, Handy played the exterminator.

The actor also had recurring roles on shows like NYPD Blue, on which he played Captain Haverhill, on Alias, on which he played Arthur Devlin, and on Profile, on which he played Lou Handleman.  

Handy made appearances on numerous other television shows as well including The West Wing, Castle and The X-Files.

His career stretches back to the 1970s and includes more than 100 acting credits.

Following the news of his death, Scott Alan Smith, professor of Performing Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design, shared how he directed Handy at the Road Theater Company of the Lyons in 2018.

‘Jim was not only a truly great actor, he was also a prince of a man – kind and generous and giving to his cast and audience,’ Smith recounted on Facebook.

Handy is pictured in an episode of ABC’s hit show Castle, one of his many on-screen credits over his five-decade career

Handy appeared in the X-Files alongside David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson

Handy’s death comes months after renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were dead with their throats slit inside their Los Angeles home.

Their youngest son, Nick, 32, was later charged with two counts of first-degree murder but has since pleaded not guilty.