Hollywood Veteran character actor James Handy, who appeared in films such as Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, has been killed by his girlfriend's son, and his tragic and desperate final moments have been revealed in a coroner's report, shocking many.
According to the Los Angeles (LA) coroner's report obtained by the Daily Mail on the 14th (local time), James Handy was brutally attacked at about 9:20 a.m. on June 3 in front of his girlfriend's house in Tarzana by his girlfriend's son, Michael Gladill (44).
At the time, the two argued at the front door, and an agitated Gladill attacked Handy, forcibly dragging him to the corner of the house. Gladill then went back into the house, came out carrying a weapon that appeared to be a knife, and stabbed Handy in the upper body multiple times. Handy suffered fatal wounds to his chest and abdomen and sustained multiple injuries including neck compression and broken ribs.
More shocking was Gladill's behavior immediately after the crime. He called 911 himself, leaving a bizarre message: "I am the son of man (Jesus Christ in the final judgment). I just killed the sinner's man." Arrested at the scene by responding officers, Gladill confessed to the crime, and Handy was immediately transported to the hospital but ultimately died.
The suspect Gladill appeared Tuesday at the LA County mental health court. Wearing a yellow jail uniform, he entered the courtroom and appeared unstable, muttering to himself throughout. The court ordered him to be detained at a California state psychiatric hospital to receive treatment until his mental capacity is restored. If convicted, he could face a minimum of 26 years to a maximum of life imprisonment.
Handy's longtime friend and fellow actor Brian Delate mourned, saying, "Handy was a warm person full of humor and always curious." He added, "Handy had often casually worried about his girlfriend's son's mental health. The girlfriend had converted the garage so he could stay there, and I never imagined such a tragedy would occur," expressing sorrow.
Nathan Hawkman, the LA district attorney, also warned of severe punishment, saying, "A person who should have spent a peaceful old age with their family was stabbed to death in the front yard and met a miserable end. This is a tragedy that should never have happened."
James Handy, who was from New York, was a distinguished scene-stealer who worked across the screen and television for decades. He was familiar to domestic fans for his role as an exterminator in the film Jumanji (1995), and most recently appeared as bartender Jimmy in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). He also appeared in many hits such as Logan, Arachne's Secret, the drama The X-Files, NCIS: Los Angeles, and CSI: NY, earning much love.
[Photo] still from The X-Files
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