Peter Greene, the American actor best known for playing memorable villains in 1990s cult classics such as Pulp Fiction and The Mask, has been found dead in his New York City apartment. He was 60.
Greene’s long-time manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed his death, saying the actor was discovered unresponsive in his apartment on Friday afternoon. Police said officers responded to the scene around 3:25 p.m., where Greene was pronounced dead. Authorities noted that he was found face down on the floor.
An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death, but investigators have said there is no suspicion of foul play.
According to reports, a neighbor alerted authorities after music was heard playing continuously inside Greene’s apartment for more than 24 hours, prompting a welfare check. Edwards said he had spoken with the actor earlier in the week and was shocked by the news.
Greene rose to prominence in the early 1990s after winning Best Actor at the 1994 Taormina International Film Festival for his performance in Lodge Kerrigan’s Clean, Shaven, in which he portrayed a man living with schizophrenia. The role marked his breakthrough and established him as a powerful character actor.
He went on to become widely recognised for portraying intense and often menacing characters, including the mafia boss Dorian Tyrell in The Mask. He also appeared in notable films such as The Usual Suspects and Under Siege 2.
His most famous role came in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film Pulp Fiction, where he played Zed, the sadistic security guard who captures characters played by Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. The performance cemented his place in one of cinema’s most iconic films.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene ran away from home at the age of 15 and spent years living on the streets of New York City. He later spoke openly about struggles with drug addiction and dealing, revealing in a 1996 interview that his early life was marked by instability and hardship.
Greene began acting in his mid-20s and quickly built a steady career in film and television. After a suicide attempt in 1996, he sought treatment for addiction. In 2007, he was arrested for possession of crack cocaine, according to reports at the time.
Despite personal challenges, Greene amassed nearly 95 acting credits during his career. His filmography includes Laws of Gravity, Clean, Shaven, Blue Streak, and Training Day, among many others.
He is survived by his brother and sister.
