The world of cinema is mourning the loss of Peter Greene, the distinctive character actor who became synonymous with portraying chilling, often sadistic, villains in some of the most enduring 1990s classics, including the cult masterpieces Pulp Fiction and The Mask. Greene has passed away at the age of 60.
The actor was reportedly found unresponsive in his New York City apartment, according to a confirmation from his manager. As of this time, the cause of death has not yet been definitively determined, and police sources informed the New York Post that no foul play is suspected in connection with his passing.
After breaking through in the early 1990s, Greene immediately parlayed his intense, angular screen presence and unsettling gaze into a string of truly memorable antagonist roles. His career trajectory secured him a place in Hollywood’s rogue gallery, notably including his turn as the menacing mafia kingpin Dorian Tyrell in the 1994 Jim Carrey blockbuster The Mask. His intimidating versatility also saw him take on memorable appearances in other cinematic touchstones of the era, such as The Usual Suspects and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.
His most infamous and career-defining role, however, came in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 cult classic, Pulp Fiction. In the film, Greene portrayed Zed, the sadistic security guard whose horrifying actions drive a crucial and deeply unsettling segment of the narrative. Zed captures and tortures characters played by Hollywood heavyweights Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames, an encounter that cemented Greene’s enduring legacy as one of the era’s most genuinely unsettling on-screen villains. His unique ability to convey controlled menace and quiet cruelty ensured his work continues to resonate with film audiences and remains a staple of ’90s cinema history.