NEW YORK CITY — Peter Greene, the intense character actor whose menacing screen presence made him an unforgettable villain in 1990s classics like Pulp Fiction and The Mask, was found dead Friday in his Lower East Side apartment. He was 60.
According to his manager, Gregg Edwards, Greene was discovered during a wellness check authorities conducted after neighbors reported hearing music playing continuously from his residence for over 24 hours. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Greene’s career was defined by his ability to bring a chilling, electric energy to his roles. He famously played Zed, the sadomasochistic security guard in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), and Dorian Tyrell, the suave antagonist opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask the same year. Despite his knack for playing dark characters, those close to him described a vastly different man off-screen.
“Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter,” Edwards said in a statement. “But he also had a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold. He was a good friend who would give you the shirt off his back.”
Born in New Jersey, Greene made his film debut in 1992’s Laws of Gravity and gained critical acclaim for his lead role as a schizophrenic man in Clean, Shaven (1993). Over a career spanning three decades, he became a fixture in crime dramas and thrillers, earning a reputation as an “actor’s actor.”
At the time of his passing, Greene was reportedly working on several upcoming projects, including a documentary focused on the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Authorities have not released further details regarding the circumstances of his death. He is remembered by friends and fans alike as a unique talent who left an indelible mark on modern cinema.
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