RIP James Handy

 

Veteran Actor James Handy Stabbed To Death In Tarzana

The son of his girlfriend called 911, the LAPD says, and confessed to the killing

Los Angeles Magazine

Michele McPhee

June 5, 2026

 

“I am the son of man. I just killed the man of sin,” a 44-year-old man allegedly said in a 911 call from a West Valley address at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Los Angeles Police Department officers raced to an address on the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana where they found 81-year-old veteran actor James Handy collapsed on the front lawn with a stab wound to his chest, according to a statement. Handy, a character actor in films like “Logan,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Arachnophobia,” was soon pronounced dead and the son of his girlfriend was taken into custody.

The suspect, Michael Gledhill, who lived at the home with his mother, flagged down police officers and told them he was the person they were looking for, the LAPD said. Gledhill is being held on $2 million bail.

Handy had close to 150 acting credits on IMDb. He also made appearances in TV shows including “The West Wing,” “9-1-1,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “CSI: NY,” “The Young and the Restless,” “Castle,” “Criminal Minds,” “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” “ER,” “The X-Files” and “Mulaney.”

HANDY, James (James Michael Handy)

Born: 3/19/1945, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 6/3/2026, Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.A.

 

James Handy’s westerns – actor:

The Young Riders (TV) – 1992 (Isiah Burke)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1995 (Elliot Cheever)

Vegas (TV) – 2012 (Mr. Dobbs)