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Musician, Actor, Screenwriter, Activist - Reggie Bannister is best known for his starring role as the intrepid ice cream vendor-turned hero in the action-horror series, Phantasm I-IV. His career spans over 37 years in television, film and entertainment with a background that includes writing, acting and music. He recently appeared in "Bubba Ho-Tep" - a mummy movie with Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis.
As a musician, Reggie has released five musical albums which include rock, country and folk and is a veteran of stage and television since the `60s having played with such groups as Stone Country and Greenwood County Singers. He continues to write, play, compose and is currently promoting his album, "Fool's Paradise," with promises of compiling an anthology album of earlier works. Reggie's music scored a recent short music video, "Land of the Free," after the title song, documenting disappearing park land in Long Beach, CA. Another, "Love That's Gone," which he co-wrote and co-produced protests the Yellowstone Buffalo slaughter, continues to receive critical acclaim.
Reggie's ear for new and upcoming talent goes beyond music. Being sensitive to the needs and desires of all artists in the entertainment industry, he is on a constant vigil to assist and promote undiscovered talent. A gifted writer, Reggie has co-authored two scripts and is working on another horror piece. He is the Vice-President of an independent production company in Long Beach called Production Magic, Incorporated. He is a popular guest and speaker at charity events and genre' media conventions.
Other film credits include Kenny & Company, Survival Quest, Silent Night, Deadly Night IV: The Initiation, That little Monster, The Demolitionist, Wes Craven's Wishmaster and Phantasm IV: Oblivion. There is currently a move to film Phantasm 2012 in which Reggie will return to his starring role of "Reggie" in the fifth installment of the series. When asked to what he attributes the popularity of his heroic character, he states, "I think (Reggie) is seen as `every man's man.' Not pretentious, often flawed, but with a lot of heart and guts. He does the things, and reacts the way, most men feel they would given the same situation." he added, "There's a lot of camp in scenes with Reggie. The humor comes from his being so... human."
Reggie is a Viet Nam Veteran, and a native
of Long Beach, having graduated from Poly Tech High and Long Beach City
College. He resides in his boyhood home near the very site where many scenes
of the Phantasm films are shot.
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