James Handy's most memorable film and TV roles: A look back at the late actor's prolific career

Britt HayesFri, June 5, 2026 at 8:36 PM UTC

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James Handy in 'Jumanji'Credit: Netflix

James Handy, the veteran character actor who appeared in everything from Arachnophobia (1990) to Top Gun: Maverick (2022), died on June 3 at the age of 81.

Handy's long Hollywood career properly began in 1981, when he made his film debut in the George C. Scott thriller Taps. Over the years, Handy appeared in several memorable movies, including the Jim Belushi buddy-cop comedyK-9 (1989), Disney's period superhero cult classic The Rocketeer (1991), and M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable (2000). In his later years, Handy popped up as a doctor in Logan (2017) and a mayor in George Clooney's Suburbicon (2017).

The actor was also a familiar presence on the small screen, appearing in episodes of Murder, She Wrote and The X-Files, and recurring on Melrose Place and The West Wing.

Below, we take a look back at Handy's career through his five most memorable film and TV roles.

01 of 05

Arachnophobia

James Handy, Jeff Daniels, Brian McNamara, and Julian Sands in 'Arachnophobia'Credit: Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett

1990's Arachnophobia is a bona fide horror comedy classic. Directed by Frank Marshall, the film stars Jeff Daniels as a doctor who moves to a small town that's soon overrun by deadly spiders. The killer supporting cast includes John Goodman, Julian Sands, and none other than John Handy.

The late actor costars as Milt Briggs, the county coroner who helps Daniels' doctor figure out what's killing the locals.

02 of 05

Jumanji

Kirsten Dunst and James Handy in 'Jumanji'Credit: Netflix

Four years after The Rocketeer, Handy reunited with director Joe Johnston for a small but pivotal role in Jumanji. Based on the classic Chris Van Allsburg picture book, Jumanji centers on a pair of kids (played by Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce) who find a magical board game that unleashes its dangers into the real world.

Handy shows up as an exterminator who first tells the kids the local lore about the previous owner of the game, Alan Parrish, played by the late Robin Williams.

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03 of 05

Top Gun: Maverick

James Handy in 'Top Gun: Maverick'Credit: Paramount Pictures

Handy's most recent — and possibly final — film role was in Top: Gun Maverick, the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 action classicTop Gun. Tom Cruise reprised his role as the eponymous pilot in the film, which features a star-studded ensemble including Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, and Jon Hamm.

As was often the case in Handy's career, his role was a fairly small but important one. He plays Jimmy, an old-timer bartender at Penny's bar, which is owned by Maverick's love interest.

04 of 05

NYPD Blue

James Handy as Capt. Haverill on 'NYPD Blue'Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Handy also guest-starred on one of the greatest police procedurals of all time, NYPD Blue. The actor played Capt. Jim Haverill in seven episodes of the acclaimed ABC series about the officers working at a fictional Manhattan precinct.

Haverill is introduced in season 1 as a domineering borough commander who antagonizes Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Lt. Arthur Fancy (James McDaniel). Handy appeared in a couple of episodes in the first season, and returned for a more prominent arc in season 2.

05 of 05

Alias

James Handy as Arthur Devlin on 'Alias'Credit: ABC

Handy delivered another memorable performance on Alias. Created by J.J. Abrams, the espionage thriller stars Jennifer Garner as Sidney Bristow, a spy who joins her dad, Jack (Victor Garber), in working as a double agent for a secretive CIA branch and a fictional international organization.

The Bristows have to answer to CIA director Arthur Devlin, played by Handy. The late actor appears in eight episodes across the series, though he's featured most prominently in season 1.

on Entertainment Weekly

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”