Pulp Fiction and The Mask actor Peter Greene dies at 60
Actor Peter Greene, known for his performances in Pulp Fiction and The Mask, has passed away at the age of 60.
Greene's body was discovered in his New York City apartment on Friday, December 12, a fact confirmed by his manager to several media outlets.
According to Gregg Edward, Greene's longtime manager, the actor's family has since received notification of his death.
“He was a unique individual,” Edward told The New York Daily News in a statement released on Friday. “One of the most brilliant character actors on the planet. Had a really good heart. Cared about people.”
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Greene was an acclaimed character actor, notably playing Zed in 1994’s Pulp Fiction and Dorian in The Mask during the same year.
“Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter,” Edward told NBC News on Saturday, December 13. “But he also had, you know, a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold.”
Edward further disclosed to NBC that authorities conducted a welfare check at Greene’s home after neighbors reported hearing music playing continuously for over 24 hours.
A cause of death for Greene, who is survived by two siblings, has not been disclosed.
Greene’s screen credits extend far beyond Pulp Fiction and The Mask, spanning both film and television.
“Clean Shaven is my favorite thing I ever did because I was immersed in a character who had troubles and you wanted to relay it,” Greene said during a 2022 appearance on the “The Up & Adam Show” podcast. “Remember when there’s nothing to do, don’t do anything and the camera picks up everything. If you’re thinking, if you’re sitting, remember when Chino was doing that scene on the phone. He was thinking and everything worked in his eyes.”
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He continued, “You’ll see when somebody’s doing the whole facial [expression] or you think when somebody’s really there someplace, just go in, have fun, it’s being shot and don’t think about anybody else. Don’t think about what they thing about you. I really mean that. Go in there and remember you’re on your own. That’s a great thing.”
Following Greene's role in 1993’s Clean Shaven, director Quentin Tarantino offered him a part in the upcoming Pulp Fiction.
“I had seen Reservoir Dogs, but I didn’t like it that much. He wanted me to play that part,” Greene recalled in 2022, also reflecting on working with Cameron Diaz in The Mask. “She’s really cool [and] she was, like, one of the boys. [Chuck Russell, the director] came up to me and he said, ‘Listen, no tongue or anything when you kiss her. Watch that kiss.’”
In most of his performances, Greene preferred to improvise certain scenes.
“If you want to improvise, improvise,” Greene told podcast host Adam Lupis. “If a director doesn’t want you to improvise and you’re in the character, then you don’t want to work with him anyway. … Don’t try to perform. Remember, less is more, especially on film. It’s not the stage [and] the camera picks up everything.”
Since Greene’s death, several of his former co-workers and fans have posted heartfelt tributes on social media.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Peter Greene,” actress Monique Dupree wrote via X. “He was so good at his craft and he was kind to others. We had such a fun time on set. RIP.”
I Am The Icarus performer Daniel Godfrey, meanwhile, tweeted that Greene “totally stole every scene” in The Mask.
