American actor James Handy, known for his roles in films such as Top Gun: Maverick, Jumanji, Logan, The Rocketeer and Arachnophobia, has died at the age of 81 after being stabbed outside his home in California by his girlfriend’s son.
Actor James Handy has died aged 81. PHOTO: Wikipedia
According to the information sent by the Los Angeles Police Department, the police intervened on Wednesday morning at an address in the Tarzana neighborhood, after a call to the emergency service 911, notes Forbes.
The caller allegedly told the operators: “I am the son of man, I have just killed the man of sin”.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found James Handy unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to the chest area. The actor was rushed to the hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, but doctors could do nothing to save his life.
The main suspect is a 44-year-old man, identified as Michael Gledhill. He was arrested on charges of murder and is being held on bail set at two million dollars.
According to the investigators, the suspect lived in the same house with his mother, who was the actor’s partner. The police believe that it is an isolated incident and stated that there is no danger to the population.
A career spanning nearly five decades
Born in New York as James Michael Handy, the actor began his career on the small screen in 1977, in a cameo role in the series Ryan’s Hope.
His film debut came in 1981 in the film Taps, where he played the role of a sheriff. The film starred Tom Cruise, Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton.
A year later he appeared in the legal drama The Verdict, nominated for five Oscars.
His last role on the big screen was in the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, where he played the character Jimmy, the bartender of the bar frequented by the pilots.
Throughout his career, James Handy has amassed more than 140 appearances in films and series. His credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs, K-9, Guarding Tess and Unbreakable.
Important roles in series
The actor has also had numerous recurring roles on television. He was known to the public for playing Matt Fielding Sr. in Melrose Place, Commander Haverill in NYPD Blue, Lou Handleman in Profiler and Arthur Devlin in Alias.
He has also appeared in dozens of hit series, including The X-Files, Walker, Texas Ranger, ER, The West Wing, Criminal Minds, Castle, NCIS: Los Angeles and 9-1-1.
The death of the actor shocked the Hollywood industry, and the investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy is ongoing.
