Reggie Bannister
Reginald Horace Bannister is an American musician, actor, producer, writer, and activist. He is known for his role as Reggie in the [Phantasm (franchise)|Phantasm film series].
Career
Bannister is known for playing the gun-toting, ex-ice cream man Reggie in the Phantasm film series directed by Don Coscarelli. Bannister co-starred in the films alongside A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and Angus Scrimm.Bannister has appeared in several films and worked with such notables as Ossie Davis, Bruce Campbell, Ella Joyce, Daniel Roebuck, Andy Griffith, Joe Estevez and Andrew Divoff, and many others.
Bannister played Herb Tooklander in the adaption of One for the Road, a short film sequel to Stephen King’s Salem's Lot, which he co-produced with director Tim Sullivan and writer/director Paul Ward. The film also stars Adam Robitel and Audrey Walters.
In 2012, Bannister and his wife, Gigi, collaborated with co-writer Shelby McIntyre and co-writer/director Vito Trabucco on the comedy horror film Bloody Bloody Bible Camp. Bannister asked Tim Sullivan to co-produce and star in the film as the main villain, Sister Mary Chopper, and Sullivan accepted.
Bannister composed the song "Have You Seen It" for Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and arranged "Sittin' Here at Midnight" with Bill Thornbury for Phantasm.
Personal life
Reggie Bannister is a U.S. military veteran who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In an article, Bannister stated: "Getting back to the Vietnam thing. I was not for that war, I was against it, but there was this thing called the draft. I had friends who were going to Canada and I wasn't going to do that, I stand up to what's in front of me, and so just like anything else, I just thought, 'Soldier? Really? You're gonna be a soldier? Okay, well then you're going to be the baddest-ass soldier that ever put on a uniform.' So I just took that attitude, Landon, and just went for it. I was a head radio operator for an automatic weapons specialty group." He was often around.40 and.50 caliber weapons, ultimately resulting in some hearing loss. Because of this, he is a service-connected disabled veteran, on top of which he was exposed to Agent Orange. Bannister took his GI bill from the military and used it to study acting.Bannister currently resides in Crestline, California, where he lives with his wife. In 2016 he was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson's disease.
On February 21, 2025, it was announced that his health was deteriorating and that he was going to begin receiving hospice care at his home in Crestline.
Filmography
Kenny & Company – DonovanJim the World's Greatest – O.D. SilengslyPhantasm – ReggiePhantasm II – ReggieSurvival Quest – PilotSilent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation – EliThat Little Monster – TwelvetreesPhantasm III: Lord of the Dead – ReggieThe Demolitionist - Warden ThomasWishmaster – PharmacistPhantasm IV: Oblivion – ReggieUp Against Amanda – Lead Guitar TedBubba Ho-Tep – Care Home AdministratorCemetery Gates – BelmontJourneyman – McFearsonThe Mangler Reborn – RickLast Rites – MitchellFallen Angels – RadarThe Final Curtain – GusThe Rage – Uncle BenText – ReggieMetal Man - Dr. Arthur BlakeThe Quiet Ones – Mr. MartinoSmall Town Saturday Night – VictorSatan Hates You – MickeyWalking Distance – WebberCarnies – Detective Conrad EllisonSawblade One for the Road – Herb TooklanderPrimitive – Dr. SteinNot Another B Movie – UmpireThe Ghastly Love of Johnny X – King ClaytonBloody Bloody Bible Camp – Father Richard CummingsPhantasm: Ravager – ReggieThe Obsidian Curse – Professor Reginald M. SydowBonejangles – Edgar Sr.Other work
Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep' Phantasmagoria Documentary on Phantasm Phantasmagorical Mystery Tour Working with a Master: Don Coscarelli- ''POV: An Actor's Insight''