Cause of death revealed for Peter Greene, the ‘Pulp Fiction’ actor best known as villain Zed

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Peter Greene, the character actor famous for playing villains in films like “Pulp Fiction” and “The Mask,” has died. The New York City Medical Examiner’s office has now determined the cause of his death.

Police found Greene, 60, dead in his apartment Dec. 12. They didn’t suspect foul play.

Entertainment & Arts

Actor Tom Noonan, famous for his roles as the villain Francis Dolarhyde in ‘Manhunter’ and the Ripper in ‘Last Action Hero,’ has passed away at the age of 74.

The medical examiner’s office determined his death was accidental. He died from a gunshot wound to his left underarm, which damaged a major artery running from his shoulder to his elbow. Simply put, he shot himself in the underarm, causing a life-threatening injury.

After neighbors heard Christmas music playing continuously for several days, they became concerned and contacted both the police and the building’s landlord to check on the character actor at his Lower East Side apartment, according to Deadline.

According to the New York Post, John Greene had struggled with addiction and had previously attempted suicide in the 1990s. He was found on the day he was scheduled to have a non-cancerous tumor removed from near his lung. His manager had spoken with him just two days prior.

According to manager Gregg Edwards, their December conversation with the individual seemed completely normal. While he admitted to being a bit anxious about the upcoming operation, he didn’t believe it was a major procedure. They exchanged well wishes, with him checking on Edwards just as Edwards was checking on him. Edwards described them as good friends and expressed his fondness for the individual.

Obituaries

Robert Duvall wasn’t known for his conventional good looks, but for the powerful and nuanced performances he delivered in films like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.”

Greene is best remembered for playing the villain Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film, “Pulp Fiction,” where he tormented the characters played by Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. That same year, he also appeared as the mobster Dorian Tyrell in “The Mask,” opposing Jim Carrey’s character, Stanley Ipkiss, who transforms into the Mask.

Greene quickly established himself in the industry, racking up almost 100 television and film appearances between 1990 and 2026, according to IMDb. He appeared in popular shows like “Chicago P.D.,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Law & Order,” and “Justified,” among others.

He began his acting career with small roles in television shows in the early 1990s, then gained recognition for starring in “Laws of Gravity.” In a 1995 review, Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times praised the 1992 film as a prime example of independent American filmmaking. He described Jimmy (Greene) as a somewhat rebellious but generally reliable character within the rough-and-tumble Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Born in New Jersey on October 8, 1965, he studied Method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York City during his twenties. He revealed to Premiere magazine in 1996 that he left home at fifteen and lived on the streets, becoming involved with drugs – both using and selling them. He found refuge from other dealers, and discovered his passion for acting, by spending time in theaters. His struggles with drug use continued even as his acting career began to take off.

After a 1996 suicide attempt, the actor said, he got treatment for addiction and sobered up.

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2026-02-20 02:01