In the Universal series, Banning is portrayed by Dick Foran and is an archaeologist and treasure hunter who goes to Egypt to search for Princess Ananka's tomb and gets attacked by Kharis whom he defeats, however the mummy returns to kill him one more time.
In the Hammer series, he is portrayed by Felix Aylmer and is also an archaeologist who searches for Ananka's tomb but has to now face off against the newly revived Kharis.
Stephen "Steve" Banning was born on June 18, 1882 in the small town of Mapleton, Massachusetts where he grew up with his older sister Jane.
The 2 then take it to the local Cairo Museum where archaeologist Dr. Charles Petrie decides to join and create an expedition to the Hill of the 7 Jackals to search for Ananka's tomb.
Steve and Babe also meet archaeologist and secret high priest Professor Andoheb who says that the vase was a total fake and breaks it purposefully but makes it accidental, saying that they wasted the money whilst also creating an enemy in Steve even though Dr. Petrie still decides to create and join the expedition with the 2 whilst Andoheb meets with his agent The Cairo Beggar who decides to assassinate the 2 for going to Ananka's tomb.
However, their conversation is cut short by Andoheb's agents led by the Beggar attacking the 3 but Steve, Babe and Solvani manage to fight them and later escape the restaurant to their respective hotels.
The Egyptians refuse to go in, saying that it's cursed and run away from the expedition along with Ali, leaving the main 5 Americans to go inside the cave, watched upwards by Andoheb and the Cairo Beggar.
The 4 go inside and saw the dead body of Ali, with the same strangle marks as Dr. Petrie, concluding that the now revived mummy of Kharis was killing off the expedition members.
When they arrive there, Steve finds the Scroll of Thoth and reads it out aloud, causing the mummy Kharis to awaken from his sleep and walk away.
1 night, Steve is sleeping in his room until suddenly Kharis bursts through his windows and after a chase, corners and strangles him to death.
Dick Foran's character of Steve Banning here of an adventurous archeologist fascinated with ancient artifacts served as partial inspiration for the later creation of Indiana Jones.