New York – Peter Greene, the versatile character actor whose intense screen presence made him unforgettable in films such as Pulp Fiction and The Mask, was found dead in his New York City apartment on Friday, Dec. 12. He was 60.
Greene was discovered in his Lower East Side home after a wellness check was requested, according to his manager, Gregg Edwards, who confirmed the death to NBC News. The check was prompted when music was reportedly heard playing inside the apartment for more than 24 hours. Edwards said he had spoken with Greene earlier in the week. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and authorities have not indicated any suspicion of foul play.
The news, first reported by the New York Daily News, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans who remember Greene as a rare talent capable of stealing scenes in both major studio films and smaller independent projects.
“Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter,” Edwards told NBC News. “But he also had a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold.” Speaking separately to Deadline, Edwards added, “He was one of the best character actors on the planet… He was loved and will be missed.”
Born in New Jersey, Greene began his acting career on television, appearing in an episode of NBC’s crime drama Hardball in 1990. His film debut followed in Laws of Gravity (1992), where he starred alongside Edie Falco. By the mid-1990s, Greene had carved out a distinctive niche as a formidable on-screen antagonist and complex supporting player.
He gained widespread recognition as Dorian Tyrell, the menacing villain opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994), and appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction the same year. His résumé also included memorable roles in Clean, Shaven (1993), The Usual Suspects (1995), Blue Streak (1999), and Training Day (2001), where he shared the screen with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.
On television, Greene had recurring roles on series such as The Black Donnellys, Life on Mars, and Chicago P.D. More recently, he appeared in the 2023 John Wick prequel series The Continental and an episode of Dope Thief slated for release in 2025, underscoring his continued relevance in the industry.
Film historians and critics often point to Greene as an example of the classic “character actor” — performers whose faces and performances are instantly recognizable even if their names are less known to casual viewers. In an era increasingly dominated by franchises, such actors are widely regarded as essential to grounding stories in realism.
At the time of his death, Greene had two upcoming projects: the film Mascots, co-starring Mickey Rourke, and a documentary narration, From the American People: The Withdrawal of USAID, featuring Jason Alexander and Kathleen Turner.
Greene is survived by his sister and brother. As tributes continue to circulate, his legacy endures in the indelible intensity and humanity he brought to every role — villain or otherwise.
