The world of acting is reeling in the loss of a beloved talent, as Peter Greene, a fearless villain in films such as Pulp Fiction and The Mask, was found dead in his New York City apartment on December 12th. His manager, Greg Edwards, confirmed the news to NBC News, with a heartfelt tribute to the 60-year-old actor.
Though the cause of Greene's death remains a mystery, Edwards shared that the actor was discovered during a wellness check initiated after music was heard emanating from his Lower East Side apartment for over 24 hours. Edwards also shared that he had spoken to Greene just days prior.
While Greene was renowned for his chilling on-screen roles, including serial abuser Zed in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film Pulp Fiction opposite Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, Edwards will always remember him for his soft side off-camera. "Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter," Edwards exclaimed. "But he also had, you know, a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold."
Born in New Jersey, Greene's career began with a role in the 1990 crime drama Hardball, but he quickly established himself as one of the best bad guys in Hollywood. In addition to his supporting performances, Greene also starred in the 1993 film Clean, Shave, playing a murder suspect struggling with schizophrenia. He also had notable performances in movies like Kiss & Tell, The Usual Suspects, and Training Day, alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.
"He was one of the best character actors on the planet," Edwards told Deadline, revealing that Greene had two upcoming projects: Mascots and From the American People: The Withdrawal of USAID, a documentary he was set to narrate. "He was passionate about shedding light on all the deaths that have happened around the world as a result of America dismantling USAID," Edwards said. "He was a good friend who would give you the shirt off his back. He was loved and will be missed."
