Reggie Bannister, Horror Icon, Passes Away | Dayton News

Dayton News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 11, 2026 · 1m

Reggie Bannister, the iconic ice cream vendor-turned-action hero from the cult classic “Phantasm” franchise, has passed away at 80. Known for his fearless role across all five films and his hauntingly memorable presence, Bannister also battled Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia — potentially linked to Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam service. Beyond horror, he was a gifted musician with six genre-spanning albums and earned the title “hardest working man in horror” for his decades-long career. He died peacefully at home in Crestline, California, surrounded by his wife Gigi and…