Breaking News Now: Peter Greene, the acclaimed character actor best known for his unforgettable performances in Pulp Fiction, The Mask, The Usual Suspects, and Training Day, has died at the age of 60, his manager confirmed Friday. Greene was found dead in his Lower East Side apartment in New York City, marking the quiet end of a career that left an outsized imprint on Hollywood crime films and independent cinema.
The actor’s death was confirmed by his longtime manager, Gregg Edwards, who said Greene was discovered after a wellness check was conducted when music had been playing inside the apartment for more than 24 hours. No cause of death has been disclosed at this time.
Greene’s passing was first reported by the New York Daily News and has since prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, filmmakers, and fellow actors who admired his fearless commitment to portraying some of cinema’s most disturbing—and most memorable—characters.
A Hollywood Actor Who Made Villains Unforgettable
Peter Greene built a career doing what few actors could: playing criminals and villains with unsettling realism, emotional depth, and psychological intensity. In an industry that often typecasts, Greene embraced the darkness of his roles, turning supporting characters into scene-stealing performances that audiences still remember decades later.
“Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter,” Edwards said in a phone interview. “But what people didn’t always see was how gentle he was off-screen. He had a heart as big as gold.”
That contrast—between menace on screen and kindness in real life—defined Greene’s career and legacy.
‘Pulp Fiction’: The Role That Shocked Audiences Worldwide
For many movie fans, Peter Greene will forever be remembered as Zed, the sadistic security guard in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 classic Pulp Fiction. Though the role was relatively brief, it became one of the film’s most disturbing sequences, contributing to Pulp Fiction’s reputation as one of the most influential movies in modern cinema history.
Greene’s portrayal of Zed was chilling not because of exaggerated villainy, but because of its realism. He played the character without caricature, allowing the horror to feel disturbingly plausible.
The film, which starred John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis, became a cultural landmark—and Greene’s performance remains one of its most talked-about supporting turns.
‘The Mask’: A Comic Book Villain with Real Threat
In the same year, Greene appeared in another iconic 1994 film: Jim Carrey’s The Mask. As Dorian Tyrell, Greene delivered a villain who balanced comic-book flamboyance with genuine danger.
While Carrey’s performance dominated headlines, Greene’s Dorian grounded the film, giving it stakes beyond slapstick comedy. His physicality, sharp delivery, and intimidating presence made him a perfect foil to Carrey’s manic energy.
Even today, The Mask remains a staple of 1990s Hollywood nostalgia, and Greene’s performance continues to be cited as one of the film’s underrated strengths.
‘Clean, Shaven’: A Career-Defining Performance in Independent Film
Before mainstream success, Greene earned critical acclaim for his lead role in the 1993 independent film Clean, Shaven—a haunting portrayal of a man with schizophrenia suspected of murder.
The role demanded extreme emotional vulnerability, and Greene delivered a performance that critics still describe as brutally honest and deeply humane. The New York Times praised his work, noting that he transformed the character into “a compellingly anguished, volatile figure.”
The film has since become a landmark in independent cinema, frequently studied in film schools and cited as one of the most authentic portrayals of mental illness ever put on screen.
For Greene, it proved he was far more than a character actor—he was a performer capable of carrying a film through sheer emotional force.
Scene-Stealing Roles in ‘The Usual Suspects’ and ‘Training Day’
Greene’s career was defined by his ability to make even brief appearances unforgettable.
In The Usual Suspects (1995), he played Redfoot, the criminal fence who sets the infamous heist in motion. Though his screen time was limited, his presence helped establish the dangerous underworld that defined the film’s tone.
In Training Day (2001), Greene delivered one of the film’s most chilling moments as Detective Jeff, a corrupt officer who agrees to be shot while wearing a bullet-resistant vest to help cover up a murder orchestrated by Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning character, Alonzo Harris.
The scene culminates in Greene’s haunting line—“Kiss me, baby”—just before he’s shot. It remains one of the film’s most quoted and unsettling moments, demonstrating Greene’s uncanny ability to elevate material through nuance.
A Career Shaped by New York City and Independent Film
Born on October 8, 1965, in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene began acting in his 20s after moving to New York City. Immersed in the city’s gritty theater and film scene, he gravitated toward roles that reflected real people living on society’s margins.
New York never left Greene’s identity as an actor. Even as he worked in major Hollywood productions, he remained closely tied to the independent film world, often choosing projects based on character complexity rather than commercial appeal.
His biography on IMDb reflects a career defined not by leading-man fame, but by consistency, authenticity, and risk-taking.
Personal Struggles and Quiet Resilience
Like many actors who portrayed intense psychological roles, Greene’s life was not without challenges. Though he rarely spoke publicly about personal struggles, those close to him have said he was deeply introspective and empathetic.
Despite periods away from the spotlight, Greene continued working steadily, appearing in television series, independent films, and stage productions. He never abandoned acting—even when the industry moved on from the gritty crime dramas that defined the 1990s.
“He loved the craft,” Edwards said. “Acting wasn’t about fame for Peter. It was about telling the truth.”
Remembered by Fans and Filmmakers
Following news of his death, fans took to social media to share favorite scenes, quotes, and memories of Greene’s performances. Film critics and cinephiles alike noted how often Greene appeared in genre-defining movies, even when his name wasn’t top-billed.
In an era increasingly dominated by CGI and spectacle, Greene represented a kind of acting rooted in raw human emotion—uncomfortable, unpredictable, and real.
Survived by Family
Peter Greene is survived by a sister and a brother, according to his manager. Funeral arrangements have not been publicly announced.
A Legacy That Endures
Peter Greene may never have been a traditional Hollywood star, but his influence is undeniable. His performances continue to resonate with audiences discovering Pulp Fiction, The Mask, The Usual Suspects, and Training Day for the first time—and revisiting them with fresh appreciation.
In an industry often obsessed with celebrity, Greene’s career stands as a reminder that character actors are the backbone of great cinema.
He played villains, criminals, and deeply troubled men—but in doing so, he revealed uncomfortable truths about humanity itself.
Peter Greene was 60 years old.
