peter greene death has been confirmed after the longtime character actor was found dead in his New York City home on December 12, 2025. He was 60. His manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed the death. Authorities reported no signs of foul play, and an official cause of death has not been publicly released.
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What is confirmed about Peter Greene’s death
Peter Greene died at his residence in New York City. He was found unresponsive and pronounced dead on December 12, 2025. As of today, no publicly confirmed cause of death has been provided, and officials have not indicated a criminal investigation.
Who Peter Greene was and why audiences recognized him
Greene built a career around intense, memorable supporting roles, often playing villains with a gritty edge that made him stand out even in brief scenes. Many movie fans know him best for portraying Zed in Pulp Fiction (1994), a role that became one of the film’s most infamous and frequently referenced performances.
He also played Dorian Tyrell, the primary antagonist in The Mask (1994), opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz. Those two roles, released the same year, cemented Greene’s reputation as a distinctive screen presence during the 1990s.
A career defined by scene-stealing character work
Greene’s filmography spans multiple decades and includes a mix of indie dramas and big studio releases. Early in his career, he gained attention with work in Laws of Gravity (1992) and Clean, Shaven (1993), which showcased a more dramatic range beyond villain roles.
Over the years, he appeared in a number of widely watched crime and action titles. His credits include films such as The Usual Suspects, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Blue Streak, and Training Day, among others. Even when he wasn’t the lead, Greene’s performances were often designed to raise the stakes—whether as a threat, an unpredictable figure, or a person who made the main characters’ lives harder.
Television roles and later-career appearances
In addition to his film work, Greene took on television projects across different eras of his career. He appeared in series including The Black Donnellys, Life on Mars, and Chicago P.D. His later credits also included more recent projects, reflecting that he continued to work steadily up to the final stretch of his life.
What his colleagues said after the news broke
Greene’s manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed his death and described him as a uniquely talented character actor. Edwards also emphasized that Greene’s off-screen personality did not match the villains he so often played on camera, remembering him as kind and generous.
Those statements align with how Greene was frequently discussed within the industry: an actor with an intimidating on-screen intensity who could be warm and approachable away from the set.
Projects connected to his final years
At the time of his death, Greene had been associated with at least two projects that were still in development or upcoming. One involved a film project with another notable actor attached, and another was described as a documentary project. Details about release dates and final status have not been confirmed publicly as of today.
Why his work in Pulp Fiction still shapes his legacy
For many viewers, Greene’s portrayal of Zed remains the performance most closely tied to his name. Pulp Fiction has stayed in the cultural conversation for decades, and the character of Zed is central to one of the film’s most difficult sequences. Greene’s performance helped make that scene feel real and dangerous, and it’s one of the reasons his work is so often singled out in discussions of the film’s supporting cast.
At the same time, Greene’s role in The Mask introduced him to a different kind of audience—one that knew him from a blockbuster comedy rather than a crime classic. The combination of those two roles made him recognizable to moviegoers who might otherwise not follow character actors closely.
What is not confirmed, and what to avoid sharing
There has been public interest in the circumstances surrounding his death, but as of today there is no confirmed public information about a medical cause. Any claims circulating online that state a specific cause without official confirmation should be treated as unverified.
Surviving family
Public reports state Greene is survived by close family members, including siblings. Additional private family details have not been broadly released.
A lasting impact through unforgettable supporting roles
Greene’s career is a reminder of how vital character actors are to American movies and TV. Leading stars may carry the marketing, but it’s often the supporting performers—especially the ones who can project danger, tension, or unpredictability—who give stories their edge. Greene did that consistently, and he did it in films that remain widely watched and quoted.
peter greene death marks the loss of an actor whose work helped define the texture of 1990s crime cinema and mainstream studio hits alike, leaving behind performances that audiences will continue to revisit.
