BREAKING: Peter Greene, unforgettable villain of the 90s, dead at 60
Peter Greene, the actor who could freeze a room with a stare, has died at 60. We have confirmed he was found in his Lower East Side apartment in New York City on December 12, 2025. Authorities have ruled out foul play. The cause of death is pending a medical examiner’s report.
Greene did not need a franchise or a cape. He made menace human. He made danger quiet. From Zed in Pulp Fiction to Dorian Tyrell in The Mask, his characters stayed with you. They walked out of the theater and into your head. Fans are revisiting his work tonight. Not out of shock alone, but out of respect.
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The roles that haunted Hollywood
Greene’s 1994 was the stuff of legend. He went from the darkest corner of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction to the neon nightmare of The Mask, and he made both feel real. As Zed, he was ice cold. As Dorian, he was a comic book made flesh, but with a wolf’s grin. You felt unsafe when he smiled.
Before that, he built credibility in the trenches. Laws of Gravity gave him street grit, not gloss. Clean, Shaven showed his raw nerve, a painful, eerie portrait that still rattles filmmakers. Those two roles put him on the map. The rest made him a landmark.
He was everywhere after that, yet never loud about it. The Usual Suspects. Blue Streak. Under Siege 2. Judgment Night. Training Day. He did not need long scenes to leave bruises. He used stillness like a weapon. He used silence like a line of dialogue.
Authorities have ruled out foul play in Greene’s death. The official cause is pending.
The climb, the crash, the comeback
Greene’s power on screen came with a price off screen. He struggled with addiction in the 1990s. He survived a suicide attempt. Then he fought his way back. In later years he was sober, focused, and working.
Television welcomed him, because television loves reliability and edge. Law & Order. Life on Mars. The Black Donnellys. Justified. He brought that same coiled energy to each set. In 2023, he turned up in The Continental, still sharp, still dangerous, still Peter.
He also kept looking forward. He had documentary work lined up. He had a thriller on deck. There is chatter about a posthumous credit next year. Even in his sixties, he was not done building.
Content warning for new viewers. Some scenes in Pulp Fiction are intense and disturbing.
Why his performances last
Greene never played evil as a cartoon. He played need. He played fear. He played a man who believes he is right, even when he is wrong. That is why his villains feel so close. They are not from space. They are from the next room.
His face did half the work. Those eyes. That stare. He could hold a camera with a breath, then shatter the scene with a single word. Directors trusted that. Audiences felt it. Young actors study it.
Pop culture ripple
When you say Zed, people know. When you say Dorian, they can see the green suit and the skull tie. These characters became shorthand in dorm rooms, writer’s rooms, and rehearsal halls. Greene turned supporting parts into cultural anchors. That is rare.
Where to start tonight
If you are pressing play in his honor, start strong. Here are five essential Peter Greene movies that show range and bite:
- Clean, Shaven, a raw, stunning character study
- Laws of Gravity, New York indie nerve and hustle
- Pulp Fiction, a small role with a giant shadow
- The Mask, a bold, stylish villain who steals scenes
- Training Day, lean screen time, big impact
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Watch Clean, Shaven and Laws of Gravity first if you want the roots. Then jump to the 1994 one-two punch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did Peter Greene die?
A: He was found in his Lower East Side apartment on December 12, 2025. Authorities ruled out foul play. The cause is pending a medical examiner’s report.
Q: How old was he?
A: He was 60.
Q: What are Peter Greene’s most famous roles?
A: Zed in Pulp Fiction and Dorian Tyrell in The Mask top the list. Add Clean, Shaven and Laws of Gravity for his breakout work.
Q: What else should I watch?
A: The Usual Suspects, Blue Streak, Under Siege 2, Judgment Night, and Training Day. On TV, look for Justified, Law & Order, and The Continental.
Q: Did he have projects coming?
A: Yes. He had work planned in documentary and a new thriller. There may be a posthumous credit next year.
The last word
Peter Greene built a career on precision. He could tilt a scene with a glance. He could crack it open with a grin. His path was tough, then tougher, but the work endures. Put on one of his films tonight. You will feel what actors and directors felt on set. You will see why his name still hits with force. 🎬
