Overview
- Bannister died peacefully at his Crestline, California, home on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, his wife Gigi and longtime collaborator Don Coscarelli confirmed.
- Gigi Bannister described checking on him early that morning, finding him quiet and later discovering he had passed; he is survived by his wife and his daughter, Ellen.
- The family and multiple reports say Bannister battled Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia for years, entered home hospice care in 2025, and used a GoFundMe to help cover at-home care costs.
- Don Coscarelli and other colleagues paid tribute to Bannister’s five-decade role as the gun‑toting, guitar‑playing Reggie across all five Phantasm films and his wider work as a musician and producer.
- The family plans several private memorials for relatives and friends followed by a public celebration for fans and fellow musicians, and statements emphasize his veteran service and reported Agent Orange exposure as context for his later illness.