Reggie Bannister, Star of the Horror Film Series ‘Phantasm,’ Dies at 80

Reggie Bannister, the renowned actor who portrayed the character Reggie in the iconic horror series "Phantasm," passed away at the age of 80 due to a prolonged health struggle. This was confirmed by his wife, Gigi, on social media. On the eve of his death, Gigi noticed Bannister "panting but quiet and asleep" around 3:45 a.m. The following morning, upon waking up, she was informed that her husband had departed peacefully.

Gigi reminisced about her late husband, describing him as "so quiet and peaceful" and "in his bed, 'In Our Mountain Home' as his song goes." She expressed her solace in knowing that her partner, confidant, and soulmate had transitioned to a higher plane and was no longer in pain. Bannister had been undergoing hospice care since February of the previous year, as he battled Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson's disease.

Born on September 29, 1945, in Long Beach, California, Bannister enlisted in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to Agent Orange. After his service, he pursued acting and found his breakthrough role in "Phantasm" in 1979, directed by Don Coscarelli. He continued to act in the subsequent sequels, as well as in other films such as "Jim the World’s Greatest," "Survival Quest," "Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation," "Wishmaster," and "Not Another B Movie."