Reggie Bannister, whose career became defined by the Phantasm horror franchise, passed away on Sunday at his residence in Crestline. The actor's death resulted from health conditions stemming from Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam War military service, followed by diagnoses of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.

Bannister's four-decade career established him as a prolific figure in horror cinema, most notably through his recurring role as the protagonist across all five Phantasm films from 1979 to 2016, alongside numerous other genre films. He earned recognition as "the hardest working man in horror" and balanced his acting with a parallel music career, recording six albums that spanned rock, folk, and country styles.