Who stabbed James Handy, Top Gun actor?

James Handy death: what authorities say happened

James Handy, an actor who appeared in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, has died at 81 after being stabbed in Los Angeles.

Multiple reports describe a violent incident at the actor’s home in Tarzana, in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. Police received an emergency call shortly before 9:30 a.m. from a man who said the Top Gun star had been stabbed. In later developments, authorities said the suspect was the victim’s girlfriend’s son.

According to the account tied to the case, the 44-year-old son of the girlfriend was arrested after allegedly telling officers he was the one who killed Handy. The arrest and allegations place the death in the context of an ongoing home-life relationship between Handy and his girlfriend.

Why it matters

• The death of a widely recognized character actor is a major shock to the entertainment community.
• The case highlights the seriousness of domestic-adjacent violence, with police alleging the suspect was someone close to the victim’s household.
• With a phone-call timeline reported and a suspect named in court-adjacent coverage, investigators now have a clearer starting point for what led to the stabbing.

As the investigation continues, details about motive and circumstances beyond the emergency call and arrest are not included in the provided reports.