Peter Greene, the face you never forgot, is gone. The actor who made Zed in Pulp Fiction and Dorian Tyrell in The Mask unforgettable died Friday in New York City. He was 60. We have confirmed that no foul play is suspected. The medical examiner is determining the cause.
What We Know Now
Peter Greene was found unresponsive in his Lower East Side apartment on Friday, December 12, 2025. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Greene was born October 8, 1965, and spent three decades shaping how movie villains look, speak, and chill us to the bone.
Authorities tell us no foul play is suspected. An official cause of death is pending.
Greene’s longtime manager, Gregg Edwards, remembered him as “a terrific guy,” and “truly one of the great actors of our generation.” Edwards added that Greene had a big heart and was “a great friend.”
We will update with the medical examiner’s findings and memorial plans when confirmed.
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The Villain Who Stole the 90s
Greene did not play bad guys. He wore them like a second skin. In 1994, he delivered two lightning bolts that still crackle today. As Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, he turned a few minutes of screen time into pure dread. That same year, he faced off with Jim Carrey as Dorian Tyrell in The Mask, a slick gangster with a snarl you felt in your seat.
He worked constantly, often in roles that added grit and surprise. Clean, Shaven showed his raw edge. The Usual Suspects and Training Day reminded Hollywood that menace can be quiet. He had a gift for turning stillness into tension, then letting it snap.
- Essential turns to revisit: Pulp Fiction, The Mask, Clean, Shaven, The Usual Suspects, Training Day
Greene never chased movie-star polish. He brought street corners and back rooms to the screen. Directors valued his instinct. Costars leaned into his timing. He made scenes sharper. He raised the stakes by just walking into the frame.
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Why Peter Greene Stuck With Us
Greene’s villains felt dangerously human. They were not cartoons, even when the world around them was wild. He could tilt a smile and make the air change. He used silence like a weapon. Then he spoke, and every word cut.
His characters were mirrors for the 90s, a decade hooked on cool and consequence. Zed still haunts viewers because Greene refused to wink. Dorian endures because he was both stylish and feral, the comic-book nightmare that could be standing behind you. Fans repeat the lines today because the feelings never faded.
Greene also carried a survivor’s energy. He worked in studio hits and small indie dramas, always with the same drive. When he played weary, you sensed a life lived. When he played wicked, you believed he had seen the dark up close. That truth seeped into every role.
The Projects Left Waiting, The Farewells Starting Now
Greene was set to begin filming the indie thriller Mascots in January 2026, with Mickey Rourke attached to co-star. The project now faces uncertainty, from rewrites to recasting. No decision has been announced.
Edwards’ tribute echoes what we have heard for years on sets and in green rooms. Greene was intense on camera, warm off it. Colleagues speak of a focused craftsman who showed up early, knew everyone’s name, and left everything in the scene. That is how legends are built, one day at a time. 🎬
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did Peter Greene die?
A: The cause of death has not been determined. No foul play is suspected. The medical examiner is reviewing the case.
Q: Where was he found?
A: He was discovered unresponsive in his apartment on the Lower East Side of New York City on December 12, 2025.
Q: How old was he?
A: He was 60. His birthday was October 8, 1965.
Q: What roles made him famous?
A: Zed in Pulp Fiction and Dorian Tyrell in The Mask. He also appeared in Clean, Shaven, The Usual Suspects, and Training Day.
Q: What happens to Mascots now?
A: The indie film, set to start in January 2026, is now in flux. Updates are expected from the production.
Conclusion
Peter Greene made menace magnetic and gave villains a pulse you could feel. His death closes a fierce, singular chapter in film acting. We will remember the stare, the stillness, and the shock of knowing you could not look away. We will share memorial details and the official cause of death as soon as they are available. 💔
