Reggie Bannister, ‘Phantasm’ Horror Franchise Star, Dies At 80

Reggie Bannister arms himself in a scene from the film ‘Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead’, 1994. (Photo by Starway International Inc/Getty Images)

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Reggie Bannister, who played Reggie in the hit Phantasm horror film series, has died.

Bannister’s wife, Gigi, told TMZ that the actor died peacefully at their home in the San Bernardino County mountains early Sunday. He was 80.

Gigi Bannister told TMZ that the actor was suffering from Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. She also noted for TMZ that he was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the military during the Vietnam War.

The actor’s character, Reggie, gained popularity throughout filmmaker Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm movies as he battled the evil Tall Man (Angus Scrimm).

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Bannister appeared in the first four films in the series: Phantasm (1979), Phantasm II (1988), Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) and Phantasm: Oblivion (1998).

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