Peter Greene, the character actor known for villain roles in films including “Pulp Fiction” and “The Mask,” died from an accidental gunshot wound, according to the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
In a determination emailed to NTD, the medical examiner’s office listed the cause of death as “gunshot wound of left axilla with injury of brachial artery.” The manner of death was ruled an accident, according to the statement from the NYC Medical Examiner’s Office.
The left axilla is the armpit, a space between the upper arm and chest wall that contains important blood vessels and nerves. The brachial artery is the major blood vessel in the arm.
Greene was found dead in his New York City apartment in December. He was 60.
Greene’s career spanned more than 30 years, with nearly 100 film and television credits, according to IMDb. He gained widespread recognition for playing Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction.”
He also appeared in “The Mask,” “The Usual Suspects,” “Blue Streak,” and “Training Day,” often cast in villain or character roles that showcased his imposing screen presence.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1965, Greene began pursuing acting in his mid-20s after moving to New York. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York City, according to IMDb.
His early leading roles included appearances in “Laws of Gravity” (1992) and “Clean, Shaven” (1993), performances that helped establish him in independent cinema before he transitioned into larger studio productions.
Greene later earned awards for his roles in independent films such as “Under the Influence” and “Turnabout.” In 2020, his performance in the web series “The Jersey Connection” brought him multiple wins and nominations, including honors from the Accolade Competition and Best Shorts Competition.
At the time of his death, Greene was engaged in two active projects, including a documentary examining the federal government's decision to withdraw funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Greene kept his personal life private. He is survived by one son. His manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed Greene’s death and reflected on their longtime friendship, calling him “just the nicest man.”