Top Gun Star Stabbed to Death, Girlfriend's Son Arrested in Shocking Incident

James Handy, an actor known for his role in Top Gun, was brutally stabbed to death outside his residence in Los Angeles.

The incident occurred on June 3, when Handy was found unconscious in his front yard with a stab wound to his chest.

Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy's girlfriend, allegedly confessed to the police that he was the perpetrator they were seeking.

A chilling 911 call came in around 9:30 a.m. from Gledhill himself, who declared, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."

Officers rushed to the scene located in the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana, where they discovered Handy lying unconscious. He was quickly transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Gledhill later flagged down police officers and admitted to being the suspect. He lived at the residence with his mother, Handy's girlfriend. Investigators are still probing the motive behind this shocking act.

Gledhill is currently being held on a $2 million bail.

The police report detailed the events: "On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street." The report continued, "Upon their arrival, officers discovered 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard of the residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest."

Handy was known for his appearances in various television shows and films dating back to the 1970s, including The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Castle, and The X-Files.

He most recently appeared in Top Gun: Maverick.