By WILLIAM J. WRIGHT
A true horror hero needs your positive thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes. Reggie Bannister, best known for portraying Reggie, the heroic, guitar-slingin’, quad shotgun-totin’ ice cream man from Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm films has entered home hospice care. Bannister has faced a number of serious health issues in recent years. In June 2016, the 79-year-old actor, musician and Vietnam veteran was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. As stated by Bannister family associate and collaborator Russell GreWolf Mauck in a Facebook post dated February 21, Bannister’s health has been mostly stable since then. However, the genre icon collapsed on February 12 and was admitted to a Veteran’s Affairs hospital for treatment.
‘PHANTASM” star Reggie Bannister
“His condition had progressed to the next stage,” Mauck writes. “He’s still cognitive, so that’s good, but his body is failing. Reggie and Gigi [Bannister’s wife] had planned ahead and made an advanced directive. As a result, Reggie will be going home from the V.A. soon, for home hospice care. There is no prognosis or timeframe. It is his wish to be home and around family, in their little mountain cabin. He’s not suffering, and he’s happy to be going home…”
“Please know how much Reggie and Gigi love their Phans, Phriends, and colleagues,” Mauck adds. “Please send your Thoughts, Prayers, and Positive Energy their way. Feel free to send your cards and letters to them both.”
Show your appreciation for Bannister and his work (and no doubt put a smile on the Reg Man’s face) by dropping a line to:
Reggie Bannister
PO Box 4387
Crestline, CA 92325
