“Pulp Fiction” Actor Peter Greene’s Death Ruled Accidental

Peter Greene, the character actor known for his intense roles in "Pulp Fiction" and "The Mask," died at the age of 60 in December. New York City officials have now confirmed the circumstances surrounding his death.

Peter Greene’s death has been ruled accidental, authorities confirmed.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City determined that the 60-year-old actor died from a gunshot wound and classified the manner of death as an accident.

Greene was found dead in his Manhattan apartment in mid-December after a neighbor heard music coming from inside all night and called police when no one answered the door. Officers conducted a welfare check and found him deceased.

Greene rose to prominence in the 1990s and became known for his intense screen presence and villainous roles. In 1994, he appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s "Pulp Fiction" as Zed, a small but memorable role that became part of one of the film’s most quoted scenes.

That same year, he played mobster Dorian Tyrell opposite Jim Carrey in "The Mask," a performance that introduced him to an even wider audience.

"The Mask" grossed more than $351 million worldwide, while "Pulp Fiction" earned $213 million, making Greene a familiar face to moviegoers even if his name was less widely known. He later appeared in "The Usual Suspects" (1995) and "Training Day" (2001), among other films.

Greene brought a raw intensity to his characters, and this was especially evident in "Clean, Shaven" (1993), an independent drama where he portrayed a schizophrenic searching for his estranged daughter.

Director Lodge Kerrigan shot the film over two years on a limited budget, and Greene’s performance drew strong reactions at the Sundance Film Festival, where some audience members fainted or walked out during certain scenes.

Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh later noted about Greene’s work: “Even when he is in repose, there’s an enormous amount going on.”

Born Peter Green in New Jersey, he later added an “e” to his last name to distinguish himself from another actor in the Screen Actors Guild. He dropped out of Montclair High School and worked various jobs before finding his way into acting through small New York theater productions.

A chance meeting with acting coach Penny Allen encouraged him to audition for independent films, eventually leading to his breakout roles.

Though many of his most visible performances came in the 1990s, Greene continued acting throughout his life, including a role in the 2020 film "Tesla."