The horror genre – and the human race – has suffered a devastating loss. This one hurts. Reggie Bannister, best known for portraying Reggie, the unlucky-in-love, ass-kicking ice cream man in Don Coscarelli‘s Phantasm series, has died at 80. According to his wife, Gigi “Fast Elk” Bannister, Reg passed in his sleep at their Crestline, California home, on Sunday, August 9. She wrote in a Facebook post:
“At 0345 am on Sunday, August 9, 2026, I last checked on my beloved Reggie Bannister’s condition. He was panting but quiet and asleep. I was exhausted so I went back to sleep.
At 0600 hours, our kitty, GG (Grey Guy) who has been sleeping on Reggie’s bed at night, came running upstairs and jumped onto the bed meowing! I went down to see what the problem was…
Somewhere inside… in my soul… I knew.
Reggie was gone. He looked so quiet and peaceful. Like he was asleep. In his bed, “In Our Mountain Home” as his song goes. In the snap of fingers, my best friend, my confidant, my partner, my soul mate was transitioned to another dimension – a higher plane.”
Filmmaker Don Coscarelli posts:
“I lost my hero yesterday.
I am very sorry to report that my dear friend and collaborator, Reggie Bannister, died yesterday at age 80.”
Reggie, a Vietnam veteran and talented musician, had faced years of declining health, including diagnoses of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease in 2016. Gigi tells TMZ that multiple memorial services for family and friends, as well as a public celebration of life for Reggie’s fans will be held in the coming weeks.
Rest in peace, Reggie.
