The Los Angeles Medical Examiner reportedly determined “Top Gun: Maverick” actor James Handy died from a stab wound to the torso and neck compression.
The medical examiner noted that Handy suffered “neck compression,” ultimately meaning that excessive pressure was put on his spinal cord or the nerve roots of his neck, according to a Friday report by TMZ.
The 81-year-old actor was allegedly attacked June 3 by his girlfriend’s son, Michael Gledhill, inside Handy’s Los Angeles home. Police reportedly said a man phoned police to notify them that he had just killed Handy, and police alleged Gledhill surrendered to them on the scene.
“I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” he said, according to TMZ.
Police located the seriously injured actor in his front yard, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital where, despite first responders’ best efforts, he was pronounced dead.
TMZ reported that Ring camera footage allegedly captured Gledhill casually walking away from the crime scene before police swooped in and took him into custody.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman charged Gledhill with a single count of murder “with a special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon, a knife,” according to TMZ.
James Handy, a veteran actor who appeared in “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jumanji,” was stabbed to death in Los Angeles by his girlfriend’s son, the LAPD said. https://t.co/oMDW3ktCaI pic.twitter.com/M1wKbQKOv3
— Variety (@Variety) June 5, 2026
Michael’s mother Wendy Gledhill, who is also Handy’s girlfriend, previously told TMZ her son suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia and was given a prescription for his condition after he was diagnosed in July 2025. (RELATED: Actor’s Girlfriend Breaks Silence After Son Arrested For Allegedly Fatal Stabbing)
She claimed Gledhill struggled with serious mental health issues at the time of the alleged murder, and she told the outlet that Michael stopped taking his medication approximately a week before Handy’s tragic death.
Handy was a veteran actor with nearly 150 acting credits to his name, including roles in “Jumanji,” “Arachnophobia” and “Taps.”