James Handy Stabbed to Death

James Handy, a prolific Hollywood character actor who appeared in almost 150 films or TV series, was stabbed to death in his front yard on Wednesday at the age of 81, according to Los Angeles police.

The circumstances behind the stabbing are still being investigated; however, police said they attended Handy's house in Tarzana, a neighbourhood in LA's San Fernando Valley, shortly after 9:30am in response to a 911 call.

Handy was found unconscious with a stab wound to his chest, and taken to hospital by paramedics where he was pronounced dead.

The 44-year-old caller, who police said was the son of Handy's girlfriend and lived with the couple at the house, was taken into custody after flagging down police.

He was taken to Van Nuys Jail, where he was booked for one count of murder, and had his bond set at $US2 million ($2.8 million).

Handy's IMDb page lists him as appearing in 148 films or TV series over almost five decades, including Arachnophobia, Jumanji, The X-Files and Alias.

In The West Wing, he played Republican congressman Joseph Bruno, who chaired the House oversight committee during the investigation into White House staff's knowledge of President Josiah Bartlet's multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

In 2017 he played a doctor opposite Hugh Jackman in Logan, while his most recent role was the bartender, Jimmy, in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick.