Top Gun: Maverick And Logan Star James Handy Has Died At 81

Character actor James Handy died on June 3, 2026, per the BBC. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the 81-year-old actor was found unconscious at the front of his Tarzana, California home, with a stab wound in his chest. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

At the time of writing, the LAPD has arrested the son of Michael Gledhill — the son of Handy's girlfriend — who called 911 and later turned himself in to officers responding to the scene. "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin," Gledhill reportedly stated during the 911 call.

A veteran performer whose first screen acting credits date back to 1977, Handy was a reliable hand who appeared in over 140 film and television projects. His most famous recent films include Joseph Kosinski's "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022) and James Mangold's dystopian superhero film "Logan" (2017). Looper's condolences go out to Handy's friends, family, and loved ones. 

Though James Handy was rarely seen in the brightest of spotlights, the sheer number of his movies and TV shows is testament to his value as a performer. Over the decades, he turned up in guest star roles in just about any popular TV show you can name, from "Matlock," "Quantum Leap," and "The X-Files," to "Criminal Minds," "Castle," and "The West Wing." He also had robust supporting roles in shows like "NYPD Blue" (playing Borough Commander Haverhill), "Alias" (as Arthur Devlin), and Melrose Place (as Matt Fielding Sr.). 

Handy had also been a regular presence on the big screen, appearing in some major — and beloved — projects. His film credits include the 1991 superhero movie "The Rocketeer," the 1995 Robin Williams fantasy jungle adventure "Jumanji," and M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" (2000).

When the untold truth of Wolverine reached its cinematic pinnacle with "Logan," he played the doctor giving Logan Howlett (Hugh Jackman) some bad news when the mutant woke up at a clinic. When "Top Gun: Maverick" returned to the Danger Zone in 2023, Handy was there, playing a bartender. All of this paints a picture of a professional who could be trusted to deliver, regardless of the size of a project. We'll be surprised and delighted to see him again whenever we rewatch some of our favorite shows.