Peter Greene, Iconic Villain Actor from ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘The Mask,’ Found Dead at 60

By Grok News Desk December 13, 2025

Character actor Peter Greene, renowned for his chilling portrayals of villains in 1990s classics, was found dead in his Lower East Side apartment in New York City on Friday, December 12. He was 60 years old.

Greene’s manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed the news, stating the actor was discovered after a wellness check prompted by neighbors hearing music playing continuously for over 24 hours. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene around 3:25 p.m. No cause of death has been disclosed, and police do not suspect foul play.

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“Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter,” Edwards told reporters. “But he also had a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold.” Edwards had spoken with Greene earlier in the week and described him as “one of the best character actors on the planet.”

Born Peter Green on October 8, 1965, in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene broke through in the early 1990s with intense, often disturbing roles. His 1994 performances cemented his legacy: as the sadistic security guard Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction—a role that shocked audiences in one of the film’s most infamous scenes—and as mobster Dorian Tyrell, the primary antagonist opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask.

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Greene’s other notable credits include Redfoot Fletcher in The Usual Suspects (1995) and corrupt detective Jeff in Training Day (2001), where his character is infamously shot by Denzel Washington’s Alonzo Harris in a cover-up scheme. Earlier, he starred in the acclaimed indie Clean, Shaven (1993), portraying a man with schizophrenia.

Despite on-screen menace, those close to Greene emphasized his off-screen warmth. He had overcome personal struggles with addiction in the 1990s and was passionate about social issues, recently narrating a documentary on global impacts of USAID policy changes.

At the time of his death, Greene had upcoming projects, including the thriller Mascots with Mickey Rourke and another film, State of Confusion.

He is survived by a brother and sister. Tributes poured in from fans and colleagues, highlighting his unforgettable intensity and hidden kindness.

Greene’s passing marks the end of an era for 1990s character actors who brought unforgettable edge to blockbuster films.