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1. Give us a little background on yourself, where did you come from and how did you get involved in acting?

 I was born and raised in Long Beach California and have lived in Southern California my entire life. If you had asked me when i was old enough to talk, "Whadya' wanna' be when ya' grow up kid?"...

you'd have gotten this response. "I wanna' be a singer, an actor and a politician." I've accomplished the first two and though I've not been elected to office, I'm an extremely political animal.

Acting wise, I started early with my very first public performance as 'Bobby' in a Thanksgiving play in grammar school. I remember that as a part of my wardrobe I wore some rather baggy cut off levis and was very concerned that when I sat on a sofa facing the audience, that they might be able to see up my pants legs and see whatever goods I had goin' on at the time... a bit disconcerting but I hung in there so to speak.

I did school plays through my first year in college and worked in community theater til' I was 15, when I began getting serious about my music. I learned guitar and started folk groups. I was a founding member of the Young Americans and the Greenwood County Singers. I played music til' I was drafted in '66, went to 'Nam got back out and joined a group called "Stone Country." I played music til' about '72 and went back to Long Beach City College where I studied more theater. I got a phone call one day from a guy named Paul Pepperman, a producer working with Don Coscarelli. He said he had a part for me in a picture and I was even going to get paid. Wow! Get paid? I said "Sure man..." and the rest is, as they say... oh well, you know what they say.

2. We all know you as Reggie from Phantasm.  How did you land such a great part?

It was easy. See, if Don Coscarelli likes to work with you he basically wants you involved in as many of his projects as possible. I did his first picture "Jim The Worlds Greatest," and his second picture, "Kenny And Company," so it was only logical that he'd write a part for me in his third picture, "Phantasm." He needed a guy to play a character that was a loyal friend to the bitter and even deadly end. He perceived that I could be that character.

3. What was it like working with Robert Kurtzman in The Demolitionist, The Wishmaster and also in Bubba Ho-tep?

I first met Bob Kurztman and Greg Nicotero on the set of Phantasm II. They were part of the SFX make up and puppetree team. This was before KNB EFX. We got along, they were great guys and would say stuff like when we get to do our movie you're definitely going to be in it Reg. Fast forward a few years. Bob comes up to me at a Fango Con and says he's going to shoot a movie. I said something like "Cool, I'm in it right?" He said "yeah..." next thing I know were shooting the "Demolitionist." Working with Bob is always cool so the first picture and 'Wishmaster' were a pleasure. Not to mention being able to work with Jack Nance in the first one and George Buck Flower in the second (both of whom have passed away) made it an even better experience.

I didn't really see Bob, Greg or Howard on the set of 'Bubba' as Melanie Tooker from the KNB EFX team was the daily hands on artist. She did the Elvis makeup and made sure 'Bubba' looked great everyday he shot.

4. What do you think about the independent film industry today?

I think it's cooking and mainstream film ought to pay real attention. Let me explain.

Truly independent film is thriving because technology has made it possible for people with great ideas and very little money to shoot their film. In the last year I've worked on 8 indie film projects... amazing!

The problem with the mainstream film industry is that they only pretend to recognize indie films. The Motion Picture Academy doesn't even have an indie film category in their awards show... they just like to talk about it so they can say they support creative from the heart and not just the pocket book movies. Big distributors also like to use the indie market to promote mainstream production. A good example was a couple years ago when 'Big Fat Wedding' and 'Barbershop' were promoted as indie films through use of limited release. Those were hardly indie pics. 'Wedding' was produced by Tom Hanks wife's production company for 5 mill and 'Shop' was produced for 11 mill. both productions undoubtedly spent millions more promoting and supporting them for the better part of a years worth of limited release. It was the same with "Lost In Translation" last year. If there had been a true indie category don't you think that 'Bubba' should have been nominated for best picture? Don't you think Bruce should have been nominated for best actor and Ossie for best supporting actor?

The industry needs to smell some coffee because true indie filmmakers are getting stronger not weaker.

Phantasm Movie Poster (1979)

Reggie in the white room

Reggie with director Don Coscarelli

The Demolitionist by Director Robert Kurtzman

Wishmaster by Director Robert Kurtzman

Reggie Plays The Rest Home Administrator

in Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep

Dead Things Movie Poster

Peace

5. What's the biggest problems in the movie industry today?

You know, I don't see any real big problems in the industry today other than the ones afore mentioned. There are some really good folks out there in influential positions willing to look at your shit... and you can't beat that with a hammer.

6. Do you have advice for up-and-coming actors?

I tell 'em all to do what I did. Stay in theater arts programs and work as much as possible. Community Theater, student film, pay or meals and copy... like Nike said, just do it. Build your resume, keep your head down and just keep going. If you're talented and want to make a living, you can. If you're young, don't take on a lot of family responsibility. It doesn't make it impossible just harder.

7. Tell us about your recent projects, will we be seeing you in any new films this year?

Like I said, 8 films in 12 months. Look for "Cemetery Gates," "Dead Things," "Song Of The Dead," "Last Rites," "Wolfsbayne," "The Journeyman," and "Mangler Reborn." The other picture "The Ghasly Love Of Johnny X," will be finished shooting this year.

 8.  What has been your favorite acting role so far?

I'd have to say that Reggie in Phantasm is my fave but I these days I'm enjoying the roles I can really stretch into. Pictures I did last year have really been fun for me since the characters range from a sleazebag dealer, and a burglar to the president of the United States... oh, I already mentioned sleazebag dealer and burglar... I've really been having a good time.

 9.  When it's all said and done, what 3 things would you like for people to remember about you?

 That I cared about my fellow man, that I lived my life for the creative process and that I finally got laid in Phantasm.

Here's the part where we give you a word or phrase and you tell us the first thought that pops' into your head, cool?

 1) Hollywood

Big Cigars

2) Your biggest regret

That I didn't go out with Raquel Welch when I met her back in '63.

3) Favorite Director

Alfred Hitchcock

4) Biggest Prick in Hollywood

Me... that's a good thing.

5) Biggest break-through moment for you

Working with Ossie Davis.

6) Biggest influences

My parents

7) Toxic Shock TV, (shameless plug)-

Shameless plug.

8) You can only watch 3 movies for the rest of your life. Which 3-

War Of The Worlds, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers ('56) and National Lampoon's vacation... any one of 'em.

9) You can only listen to 3 music cd's the rest of your life. Which 3-

Eagles (live), CSN (best of), Jimmy Hendrix (best of).

10) Biggest joke in Hollywood-

The way a 'celebrity' can buy a 'star' on the Hollywood Blvd Walk of Frame.

11) Pisses you off

The current administration

12) Makes you happy

Making movies and music.

CLICK HERE to check out Reggie's website !

"The Ball Is Back" - Phantasm II Poster (1988)

Reggie in Phantasm II

Reggie's Showdown in Phantasm IV