American actor and musician Reggie Bannister, famous for starring in the cult horror film series Phantasm, died Sunday morning at age 80. Entertainment news outlet TMZ reported his death, citing his wife Gigi.
Bannister passed away early on August 9 at his home in Crestline, California. He was seriously ill in recent years after receiving diagnoses for Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Phantasm role and acting career
The role of Reggie became the defining work of Bannister's career. He first appeared in Phantasm in 1979 and returned to the character in subsequent installments of the franchise. His character is an ice cream vendor who gets drawn into a battle with the mysterious Tall Man, one of the horror genre's most recognizable villains.
Beyond the Phantasm series, Bannister appeared in the films Kenny & Company, Bubba Ho-Tep, and The Rage. He also took part in the animated series Transformers: Prime. In addition to his acting work, Bannister was known as a musician.
