James Handy - who appeared movies including Arachnophobia, Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick - has died after Los Angeles stabbing

A star of hit movie Top Gun: Maverick was the victim of a deadly stabbing, it has been confirmed. Actor James Handy died after an incident in Tarzana, Los Angeles, at around 9.30am on Wednesday (June 3), the LAPD said.

Officers were called to the scene and found Handy unconscious in the front yard of a residence, suffering from a stab wound to the chest. Despite being rushed to hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, officials said, the 81-year-old was later pronounced dead.

Officials then said the stabbing suspect later flagged down police responding to the incident and told them he was the person they were looking for. He has been identified the suspect as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, of Tarzana, and according to investigators, lived at the residence with his mother, who was Handy’s girlfriend.

Gledhill reportedly called 911 himself and declared, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” prompting the emergency response. He was booked on suspicion of one count of murder, according to police.

Confirming the news, Pam Ellis-Evenas, from the talent and management agency that represented Handy, said: “With great sadness, we can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy." She added: “I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy.”

Hailing from New York, Handy has appeared in a string of shows and films over decades, including Logan, Arachnophobia and as an exterminator in the 1995 film Jumanji and, more recently, bartender Jimmy in the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick. He also appeared in some of the top TV crime dramas, including 911, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI: New York, The Closer and Cold Case.

Police said the investigation into the stabbing continues.