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Veteran Hollywood actor James Handy, known for his roles in films including Top Gun: Maverick, Logan, and Jumanji, has died after an alleged stabbing incident at his Los Angeles home. He was 81.

Authorities said Handy was found with a stab wound to the chest after police responded to a call at a residence in the Tarzana area of Los Angeles on June 3.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers arrived at the scene around 9:30 a.m. and discovered the actor unconscious in the front yard of the property. He was taken to a nearby hospital by paramedics, where he was later pronounced dead. A representative for James subsequently confirmed that the victim in the incident was the longtime actor.

Police identified the suspect as Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy's girlfriend. Investigators said Gledhill was taken into custody after approaching authorities and allegedly identifying himself as the person they were looking for.

James's girlfriend is 76-year-old Wendy Gledhill. She broke her silence following the tragic June 2026 death of the Top Gun: Maverick actor to express grief and share that her son, who has been charged with his murder, suffers from schizophrenia.

Speaking to The California Post on June 5, Wendy, 76, shared that she is still struggling to cope with the tragedy and the loss of both James and her son.

“I'm just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” Wendy told The California Post on Friday, June 5. “I loved James and my son.”

The LAPD said detectives currently believe the case was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Two days after the actor's death, prosecutors filed a murder charge against Gledhill. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office also included an allegation that a deadly weapon was used in the killing. If convicted, the suspect could face a lengthy prison sentence.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman condemned the attack in a statement, saying Handy deserved to enjoy the later years of his life with the people he cared about.

“This is not how anyone's life should end,” Nathan said, adding that those responsible for taking a life through violence must be held accountable.

Local media reports cited neighbors who claimed they heard an argument at the residence the night before the incident. Authorities, however, have not publicly disclosed a motive as the investigation continues.

Handy built a decades-long career in film and television, appearing in numerous productions across different genres. Among his notable screen credits are Top Gun: Maverick, Logan, Arachnophobia, Bad Sister, and Jumanji, as well as many other projects throughout his more than 40 years in the entertainment industry.

The Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

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