Reginald Horace "Reggie" Bannister (born September 29, 1945) is an American musician, actor, producer, writer, and activist. He is known for his role as Reggie in the ''Phantasm'' film series.

Biography

Bannister is known for playing the gun-toting, ex-ice cream man Reggie in the ''Phantasm'' film series. Bannister starred in the films, which were directed by

Don Coscarelli Don Coscarelli Jr. (born February 17, 1954) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Born to Italian settlers in Libya, he is best known for his work in horror films. His directing credits include the first four films in the '' ...

, alongside A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and

Angus Scrimm Angus Scrimm (born Lawrence Rory Guy; August 19, 1926 – January 9, 2016) was an American actor, author, and journalist, known for his portrayal of the Tall Man in the 1979 horror film ''Phantasm'' and its sequels. Early life Scrimm was born ...

. Bannister has appeared in several films and worked with such notables as

Ossie Davis Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He and his wife were named to the NAACP ...

Bruce Campbell Bruce Lorne Campbell (born June 22, 1958) is an American actor and director. He is known for portraying Ash Williams in Sam Raimi's ''Evil Dead'' franchise, beginning with the 1978 short film '' Within the Woods''. He has starred in many low- ...

Ella Joyce Ella Joyce (born Cherron Hoye; June 12, 1954) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Eleanor Emerson on the Fox comedy-drama sitcom '' Roc'', which originally ran from 1991 until 1994. Early years The daughter of an autowor ...

Daniel Roebuck Daniel James Roebuck (born March 4, 1963) is an American actor and writer. His best known roles include Deputy Marshal Robert Biggs in ''The Fugitive'' and its spinoff film ''U.S. Marshals'', Jay Leno in ''The Late Shift'', and Dr. Leslie Arz ...

Andy Griffith Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his characte ...

Joe Estevez Joseph Estévez (born February 13, 1946) is an American actor and director. He is the younger brother of actor Martin Sheen and the uncle of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez. Life and career Early life Esteve ...

and Andrew Divoff, and many others. Bannister has played many roles from Reggie in the ''Phantasm'' series to Herb Tooklander in the latest

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high ...

adaption of ''One for the Road''. Along with co-producer Tim Sullivan and writer/director Paul Ward, he has also co-produced and starred in the short sequel to ''

Salem's Lot ''Salem's Lot'' is a 1975 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It was his second published novel. The story involves a writer named Ben Mears who returns to the town of Jerusalem's Lot (or 'Salem's Lot for short) in Maine, where he li ...

'', entitled, ''One for the Road''. This film stars Bannister as well as

Adam Robitel Adam Robitel (born May 26, 1978) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for directing horror films, such as ''The Taking of Deborah Logan'' (2014), '' Insidious: The Last Key'' (2018), ''Escape Room'' (20 ...

as Booth and

Audrey Walters Audrey () is an English feminine given name. It is the Anglo-Norman form of the Anglo-Saxon name ''Æðelþryð'', composed of the elements ''æðel'' "noble" and ''þryð'' "strength". The Anglo-Norman form of the name was applied to Saint Aud ...

as Janey Lumley. In 2012, Bannister and his wife, Gigi, have collaborated with co-writer

Shelby McIntyre Shelby may refer to: Places United States * Shelby, Alabama, a census-designated place and unincorporated community * Shelby, Idaho * Shelby, Indiana, an unincorporated town * Shelby, Iowa, a city * Shelby, Oceana County, Michigan, a villag ...

and co-writer/director

Vito Trabucco Vito is an Italian name that is derived from the Latin word "''vita''", meaning "life". It is a modern form of the Latin name Vitus, meaning "life-giver," as in San Vito or Saint Vitus, the patron saint of dogs and a heroic figure in southern ...

on the

comedy horror Comedy horror, also known as horror comedy, is a literary, television, and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as able to be categorized under three types: "black comedy, parody and spo ...

film ''

Bloody Bloody Bible Camp ''Bloody Bloody Bible Camp'' is a 2012 American horror-comedy/splatter film. The film was directed by Vito Trabucco and produced by Reggie Bannister, who stars as Father Richard Cummings. The film also features Tim Sullivan as a cross dressing n ...

''. After having worked with Sullivan on ''One for the Road'', Bannister had even asked Sullivan to co-produce and star in the film as the main villain, Sister Mary Chopper, which Sullivan accepted.

Music career

Bannister composed the song "Have You Seen It" (used in ''Phantasm IV: Oblivion'') and arranged "Sittin' Here at Midnight" with Bill Thornbury (used in ''Phantasm'').

Personal life

Reggie Bannister is a United States Military Veteran who served in Vietnam during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

. Reggie states in an article "Getting back to the Vietnam thing. I was not for that war, I was against it, but there was this thing called

the draft Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day und ...

. 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 around .40-caliber weapons all the time, 40 and .50-caliber weapons and he's lost some of his hearing because of it. Reggie is a service connected disabled veteran because of it, on top of which he was exposed to Agent Orange." Reggie took his GI Bill from the military and he studied acting. Bannister currently resides in Crestline, California, where he lives with his wife.

Filmography

* ''Bonejangles'' (2017) – Edgar Sr. * ''The Obsidian Curse'' (2016) – Professor Reginald M. Sydow * '' Phantasm: Ravager'' (2016) – Reggie * ''

'' (2012) – Father Richard Cummings * '' The Ghastly Love of Johnny X'' (2012) – King Clayton * '' Not Another B Movie'' (2011) – Umpire * ''Primitive'' (2011) – Dr. Stein * ''One for the Road'' (2011) – Herb Tooklander * ''

Carnies Carny, also spelled carnie, is an informal term used in North America for a traveling carnival employee, and the language they use, particularly when the employee operates a game ("joint"), food stand ("grab", "popper" or "floss wagon"), or ride ...

'' (2009) – Detective Conrad Ellison * ''Walking Distance'' (2009) – Webber * ''Satan Hates You'' (2009) (post-production) – Mickey * ''Small Town Saturday Night'' (2008) – Victor * '' The Quiet Ones'' (2008) – Mr. Martino * ''Text'' (2008) – Reggie * '' The Rage'' (2007) – Uncle Ben * ''The Final Curtain'' (2007) – GusAndré Loiselle and Jeremy Maron * ''Fallen Angels'' (2006) – Radar * ''

Last Rites The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. They may be administered to those awaiting execution, mortal ...

'' (2006) – Mitchell * '' The Mangler Reborn'' (2005) – Rick * ''Journeyman'' (2005) – McFearson * '' Cemetery Gates'' (2004) – Belmont * ''

Bubba Ho-Tep ''Bubba Ho-Tep'' is a 2002 American comedy horror film written, co-produced and directed by Don Coscarelli. It stars Bruce Campbell as Elvis Presley—now a resident in a nursing home. The film also stars Ossie Davis as Jack, a black man who ...

'' (2002) – Care Home Administrator * '' Up Against Amanda'' (2000) – Lead Guitar Ted * '' Phantasm IV: Oblivion'' (1998) – Reggie * '' Wishmaster'' (1997) – Pharmacist * '' The Demolitionist'' (1995) - Warden Thomas * '' Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead'' (1993) – Reggie * '' That Little Monster'' (1994) – Twelvetrees * '' Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation'' (1990) – Eli * '' Survival Quest'' (1989) – Pilot * ''

Phantasm II ''Phantasm II'' is a 1988 American science fantasy action-horror film and the sequel to '' Phantasm'' (1979). It was written and directed by Don Coscarelli and stars Angus Scrimm, James LeGros and Reggie Bannister. The first film's protagonist, ...

'' (1988) – Reggie * ''

Phantasm Phantasm may refer to: * Apparitional experience, an anomalous experience, quasi-perceptual experience * Ghost, the disembodied soul or spirit of a dead person or animal Film * Don Coscarelli's ''Phantasm'' film series (1979-2016) ** ''Phanta ...

'' (1979) – Reggie * ''

Jim the World's Greatest ''Jim the World's Greatest'' is a 1976 drama film written and directed by Don Coscarelli and Craig Mitchell. The movie began production when Coscarelli and Mitchell were 18-year-olds, while being financed by their parents at a stated cost of $250, ...

'' (1976) – O.D. Silengsly * '' Kenny & Company'' (1976) – Donovan

Other work

* '' POV: An Actor's Insight'' (2009) * '' Working with a Master: Don Coscarelli'' (2006) * ''

Phantasmagoria Phantasmagoria (, also fantasmagorie, fantasmagoria) was a form of horror theatre that (among other techniques) used one or more magic lanterns to project frightening images, such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts, onto walls, smoke, or semi-t ...

'' (2005) Documentary on ''Phantasm'' (V) * '' Phantasmagorical Mystery Tour'' (2005) (V) * '' Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep''' (2004)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bannister, Reggie American male film actors Male actors from Long Beach, California 1945 births Living people American male screenwriters American male singers American male composers 20th-century American composers Musicians from Long Beach, California Film directors from California Singers from California Guitarists from California 20th-century American guitarists Screenwriters from California American male guitarists 20th-century American male musicians The Young Americans members