Peter Greene, the actor whose menacing performance as the villain Zed in Quentin Tarantino's cult classic "Pulp Fiction" became one of cinema's most unforgettable antagonists, has died at age 60.
Greene passed away in his apartment on the Lower East Side in New York City. His manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed his death on Friday. The exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
"He was just a terrific guy," Edwards said. "Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; Has worked with everybody.”
Greene's film career began gaining traction in the early 1990s, with his first leading roles coming in "Laws of Gravity" in 1992 and "Clean, Shaven" in 1993. The latter performance caught the attention of Tarantino, who would soon offer him the role that would define his career.
In 1994, Greene brought a chilling intensity to his role in "Pulp Fiction," where he portrayed the sadistic torturer brought in to terrorize characters played by Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. That same year, he showed his range by taking on another major villainous role opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in "The Mask.”
Throughout the remainder of the 1990s and into the 2000s, Greene became a sought-after character actor, leaving impressions in a string of notable productions. He played the memorable criminal Redfoot in the acclaimed crime drama "The Usual Suspects" in 1995, and appeared as a villain in Steven Seagal's "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" that same year. He also had roles in "Blue Streak," "Ticker," "Training Day," "The Bounty Hunter," and numerous other productions.
More recently, Greene delivered what was described as an emotionally charged performance in the second season premiere of Tim Firtion's award-winning web series "The Jersey Connection" in 2018. His work on that project earned him two wins and five additional nominations for his acting.
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.
Edwards, who kept a friendship with Greene for more than a decade, reflected on the actor's character. "Just the nicest man," Edwards said.