Phantasm star Reggie Bannister dies aged 80 after Parkinson’s diagnosis

| Senior TV Reporter Published August 11, 2026 7:29am Updated August 11, 2026 7:31am Phantasm star Reggie Bannister has died age 80 (Picture: Getty) Reggie Bannister, best known for his starring turn in the Phantasm horror franchise, has died aged 80. His family confirmed he died following a Parkinson’s diagnosis. They said in a statement: ‘Reggie Bannister fought debilitating effects of Parkinson’s while resting comfortably in his Mountain home with caregivers and Gigi by his side. ‘[His wife] Gigi was with him till the end, as she had vowed, until death and meant it. Reggie‘s final request was to please let his fans know, “It’s never over.”‘ Gigi also shared a post on Facebook commemorating her husband. ‘He looked so quiet and peaceful. Like he was asleep. In his bed, “In Our Mountain Home” as his song goes. ‘In the snap of fingers, my best friend, my confidant, my partner, my soul mate was transitioned to another dimension – a higher plane,’ she wrote. She concluded: ‘He no longer suffers. He’s no longer in pain. That gives me solace. I will see you on the flip side, honey bunny. Save me a hug! Wait for me.’ The actor is a cult horror icon (Picture: Getty Images) His death comes after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (Picture: Reggie Bannister/Gina) The supernatural horror Phantasm came out in 1979, in which Bannister played ex-ice cream man turned gun-wielding hero Reggie and reprised the role several times, as recently as 2016. The same year, the Vietnam War veteran was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease, with his wife claiming to TMZ that his health challenges were due to Agent Orange exposure during his military service. According to IMDb, the star also appeared in Wishmaster, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation, Cemetery Gates, Sawblad and The Obsidian Curse. The actor was also a prolific musician and released six albums in the rock, country and folk genres. Arrow MORE: Anne Hathaway debunks ridiculous accusation her baby bump is fake after red carpet look Arrow MORE: Grease actress reveals reclusive life in London after shunning Hollywood Arrow MORE: Dukes of Hazzard star Ben Jones dies aged 84 after suffering ‘massive heart attack’