Peter Greene, known for his villainous roles in Pulp Fiction and The Mask, has died at the age of 60. He was found dead in his New York City apartment, with no foul play suspected. His manager praised his talent and kind heart.
Overview
Peter Greene, the actor celebrated for portraying memorable villains in 1990s films, passed away on December 13, 2025, at age 60. He was discovered deceased in his apartment in New York City, according to his manager Gregg Edwards. Authorities, as reported to the New York Post, have ruled out any suspicion of foul play, though the cause of death remains undisclosed.
Career Highlights
Greene gained prominence with his chilling performance as Zed, the rapist security guard in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994). In the same year, he played the antagonist Dorian in The Mask, starring Jim Carrey. These roles established him as a go-to actor for tough, menacing characters.
His filmography includes standout work in Lodge Kerrigan's Clean, Shaven (1994), where he portrayed a man with schizophrenia and earned the best actor award at the Taormina Film Festival. Greene appeared in other notable projects such as The Usual Suspects (1995), Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), Training Day (2001) alongside Denzel Washington, Judgment Night (1993), The Rich Man's Wife (1996) with Halle Berry, Blue Streak (1999), and The Bounty Hunter (2010) with Jennifer Aniston.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene leaves behind a sister and a brother.
Personal Reflections
In a 2011 interview on The Sissy Gamache Show, Greene revealed he initially declined the Pulp Fiction role due to its intense content, comparing it to Deliverance. However, after discussions with Tarantino, he accepted and modified the scene to suit his vision.
Greene's manager Gregg Edwards shared heartfelt words with NBC News: "Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter. But he also had a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold." Edwards added, "He was a terrific guy. Truly one of the great actors of our generation. His heart was as big as there was. I’m going to miss him. He was a great friend."
