Remembering James Handy: A Character Actor of True Character
By
Carl Kurlander
Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, baked to perfection. Worth every minute at the bakery.
Summary
A guest column by screenwriter Carl Kurlander remembering actor James Handy, who was tragically killed by the schizophrenic son of his girlfriend. The piece argues that media headlines focusing on the sensational aspects of his death miss the full story of a dedicated character actor with integrity, warmth, and a rich career spanning decades. Kurlander shares personal anecdotes about Handy's kindness, professionalism, and the meaningful connections he made throughout his life and career.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe stories focused much on the call Jim's attacker made to 911 saying: 'I am the Son of...'
This past week, headlines blanketed the internet about actor James Handy, from Top Gun: Maverick, who was stabbed to death on the front lawn of his Tarzana home by the schizophrenic son of his girlfriend.
Headlines about actor James Handy being killed by the schizophrenic son of his girlfriend don't tell the story of a character actor with character.
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