Beyond the Curtains: Remembering Reggie Bannister
Every year we lose so many close allies in the realm of horror — friends, stars who have gone beyond acting in films to give us something deeper, and we feel them all. Think of when Sid Haig and Tony Todd departed through the curtains for the final time as flesh and blood, you love their works but sometimes it feels like more, especially to those who you grow up with.
Reggie Bannister (September 29, 1945 – August 9, 2026) is one such man to millions of Phans around the globe. Yes, he has passed away, the final departure where he meets up with lost family, friends and The Tall Man.
Reggie, as you’re aware via our article (see Phantasm’s Reggie Bannister Needs Us Now – Let’s Help a Horror Legend) and many others recently, was struggling with his health and his wife, Gigi, was in dire straights financially so funding groups were set up. Why? Because they both gave so much back to our horror community over the decades.
Now he’s laid his guitar down and is at peace. Gigi said it was because of their cat at night that she realised before even entering the room.
Reggie Bannister isn’t just the Phantasm Ice-cream man, his career has spanned so many other films such as Gangs of the Dead, Wishmaster, Bloody Bible Camp, Bubba Ho Tep, and we could go on, but his greatest role has been husband, and the man who gave so much love at conventions. Did you know Reggie has been a musician and has CDs out? There you go, a little Creepy fact for ya.
Anyone who has been close to someone suffering what Reggie suffered in his last years on this side knows that there’s a small feeling of a blessing that the person is now free again to be who they always was, but then the overwhelming powerful sheet of loss as you realise how big they were in your life and they’re now gone until you open the same curtains one day.
Gigi, you are an amazing woman, so strong.
Rest peacefully, Reggie, you will never be forgotten
