Peter Greene’s Death Ruled Accidental Following Gunshot Wound, Medical Examiner Says

Peter Greene, the prolific character actor best known for his unsettling turn in Pulp Fiction, died from an accidental gunshot wound, according to findings released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York. He was 60.

Officials confirmed that Greene sustained a gunshot wound to the left axilla, the area under the arm, which resulted in damage to the brachial artery. The injury caused significant blood loss. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death accidental.

Greene was found deceased in his Lower East Side apartment on Dec. 12, 2025. Authorities conducted a wellness check after a neighbor reported that music had been playing continuously from the residence for several days. Police responded alongside the building’s landlord and discovered the actor’s body inside the apartment.

Throughout a career that spanned more than three decades, Greene became known for inhabiting volatile, often menacing characters with intensity and unpredictability. His most widely recognized role came in 1994 when he appeared as Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. In the film’s notorious basement sequence, Greene portrayed a security guard whose violent actions against crime boss Marsellus Wallace, played by Ving Rhames, became one of the movie’s most disturbing moments. The trio of antagonists in that storyline, including characters played by Duane Whitaker and Stephen Hibbert, was conceived as a dark homage to the 1972 thriller Deliverance.

That same year, Greene took on another high-profile villain role in The Mask, starring opposite Jim Carrey. He played Dorian Tyrell, a crime figure who seizes the mystical Mask of Loki in a bid to overthrow his boss. The transformation sequence, which exaggerated his physicality and voice into a supernatural force, showcased Greene’s willingness to embrace stylized, larger-than-life antagonists. The performance helped cement his reputation as a reliable presence in dark, offbeat supporting roles during the 1990s.

Over time, Greene built a résumé that included nearly 100 film and television credits. His work ranged from crime dramas to independent features, with appearances in series such as Chicago P.D., Hawaii Five-0, Justified, and Life on Mars. He also appeared in films including Permanent Midnight, City of Lies, and Tesla, among others.

Colleagues often described Greene as an actor capable of bringing unexpected depth to small but pivotal roles. Though he frequently portrayed criminals or morally ambiguous figures, his performances were marked by a distinct vulnerability beneath the surface menace. That duality allowed him to move between studio productions and independent projects with ease.

Greene’s final screen appearance will come posthumously in the upcoming drama Clika, which is scheduled for release later this year. The film is expected to serve as one of his last contributions to a career defined by steady, if often understated, work.

News of the medical examiner’s findings provides clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. No foul play was indicated in the report, and authorities classified the shooting as accidental.