'Jumanji' actor James Handy dies after fatal stabbing at Los Angeles home

Veteran American actor James Handy, who appeared in popular films such as Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, has died after being stabbed at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81 years old.

According to police, Handy was found unconscious in the front yard of his home in Tarzana, California, on Wednesday. He had suffered several stab wounds to his chest. Emergency responders took him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Los Angeles Police Department said that 44-year-old Michael Gledhill has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Gledhill is the son of Handy's girlfriend and lived at the home with his mother.

Police said officers were called to the property after a 911 caller reported "unknown trouble." According to investigators, the caller told dispatchers: "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."

When officers arrived, Gledhill reportedly told them that he was the person they were looking for. The investigation is ongoing.

Born in New York, Handy built a successful acting career that lasted more than six decades. Although he was rarely the lead actor, he became a familiar face in many well-known films and television shows.

His film credits included Jumanji (1995), where he played an exterminator, and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), where he portrayed Jimmy, a bartender who worked with the character played by Jennifer Connelly.

Handy also appeared in numerous popular TV series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, NCIS, The West Wing, CSI: NY, Castle, Alias, The X-Files, Cold Case, and Murder, She Wrote.

Following news of his death, tributes began to emerge from those who worked with him. Pam Ellis-Evenas of Ellis Talent Group remembered Handy as both a talented actor and a kind friend.

"I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy," she said in a statement.

James Handy leaves behind a long legacy in film and television, with a career that touched generations of viewers through hundreds of memorable performances.

- PTC PUNJABI