Reggie Bannister Biography

Musician, Actor, Screenwriter, Activist - Referred to as 'The Hardest Working Man in Horror,' Reggie Bannister is known world wide for his starring role as the intrepid ice cream vendor-turned hero in the action-horror series, Phantasm I-IV. His career spans over 40 years in television, film and entertainment with a background that includes writing, acting and music. His recent projects have been 'Walking Distance (2009),' 'Text' (2008), 'Small Town Saturday Night' (2009) (with Chris Pine, John Hawkes, and Muse Watson), 'Satan Hates You' (2009), and Don Cosarelli's 'Bubba Ho-Tep' (2002) (with Bruce Campbell and the late Ossie Davis).As a musician, Reggie has released six (6) 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, 'Naked Truth,' and '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 ongoing Yellowstone Buffalo slaughter, which continues to receive critical acclaim.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 with his wife in Southern California, 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 NightIV: The Initiation, That little Monster, The Demolitionist, Wes Craven's Wishmaster, Carnies and most recently, Dark Path Chronicles. There is currently a move to film Phantasm V, 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 also credited as Assistant Director, Co-Director, Co-Producer, Associate Producer and often on the Special Effects Team with his wife, Gigi Fast Elk. Reggie resides in Southern, California, with his wife and two cats and performs music regularly at local events in his mountain community.