Reggie Bannister, Phantasm Star, Dies at 80

Reggie Bannister, the actor best known for his role as the shotgun-wielding hero in the cult horror franchise Phantasm, has died at the age of 80. His family confirmed he passed away on Sunday, August 9, at his home in Crestline, California, following a long battle with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

Bannister's wife, Gigi, shared the news on social media, describing how she discovered him that morning. She wrote that she checked on him around 3:45 a.m. and found him sleeping, but when the couple's cat jumped on his bed hours later, she realized he had passed. "He looked so quiet and peaceful. Like he was asleep," she wrote. "In the snap of fingers, my best friend, my confidant, my partner, my soul mate was transitioned to another dimension a higher plane."

A family statement noted that Bannister "fought debilitating effects of Parkinson's while resting comfortably in his Mountain home with caregivers and Gigi by his side." His final request, they said, was to let his fans know, "It's never over."

Bannister's health struggles were linked to his military service. He was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was diagnosed...