If you searched for a Peter Green actor, you most likely mean Peter Greene. He was an American character actor, and his last name ends with an E. He played Zed in Pulp Fiction and Dorian Tyrell in The Mask. He died on December 12, 2025, in New York City, at age 60. In February 2026, the medical examiner said his death was accidental, caused by a gunshot wound. But he was more than two famous villains.
Peter Green Actor or Peter Greene? Who Was He?
Peter Greene was born Peter Green. He added an E to his last name. The Guardian says this helped tell him apart from another person with the same name in the Screen Actors Guild.
He was born in Montclair, New Jersey, on October 8, 1965, according to the Television Academy and The Guardian. Some sites list a different birth date. We use the one from these two sources.
In his twenties, he studied Method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York. TheWrap reported about 95 acting credits for him.
One more mix-up: Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac was a British blues guitarist. He was born in 1946 and died in 2020. He is not the actor.
What Movies Did Peter Greene Appear In?
Most people know two roles. Fans also point to his smaller films. Here are the key ones.
| Film | His role |
|---|---|
| Laws of Gravity (1992) | Jimmy |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | Zed |
| The Mask (1994) | Dorian Tyrell |
| The Usual Suspects (1995) | Redfoot |
| Clean, Shaven | Peter Winter |
| Clika (2026, released after his death) | Lieutenant Jones |
| The Random Guest (2026, released after his death) | Shane |
Pulp Fiction: Zed
Zed is a security guard in Pulp Fiction. Quentin Tarantino directed the film, and Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames also starred. Fans still repeat the line “Zed’s dead.” One r/movies commenter praised his “magnetic screen presence.”
The Mask: Dorian Tyrell
Dorian Tyrell is the main villain in The Mask. He goes up against the character played by Jim Carrey. Cameron Diaz also stars. Fans on r/themask called the performance “perfectly cast, perfectly performed.” One fan wished he had more screen time.
Clean, Shaven: Peter Winter
In Clean, Shaven, Greene played Peter Winter. Winter is a man with schizophrenia who searches for his estranged daughter. Lodge Kerrigan directed the film.
The Guardian describes it as an uncompromising expressionistic drama. It also reports praise from filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. A fan on r/criterion said the film shows his range. Others called it “heartbreaking.” This is not a villain role.
Laws of Gravity and Other Films
Laws of Gravity came out on August 26, 1992. Nick Gomez directed it. Edie Falco and Adam Trese were also in the cast. The film is an early credit that gets less attention than Pulp Fiction.
Other films named in the reporting include these:
- Judgment Night
- Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
- The Rich Man’s Wife
- Permanent Midnight
- Blue Streak
- Training Day
Two films came out after his death. Clika was released on January 23, 2026, and The Random Guest on August 11, 2026. The Random Guest is available on Prime Video.
What TV Shows Did Peter Greene Appear In?
He also worked on television. Variety and People list these shows.
| Show | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Hardball | His first screen appearance, in 1990 |
| The Black Donnellys | Recurring role as Derek “Dokey” Farrell |
| For Life | Recurring role |
| Justified | One r/television user recalled him as Tommy Bucks in the pilot |
| Life on Mars | Appeared in the series |
| Hawaii Five-0 | Appeared in the series |
| Chicago P.D. | Appeared in the series |
| The Continental | Appeared in the series |
| Dope Thief | Appeared in one episode in 2025. People names it as his most recent TV appearance. |
One fan wrote that he was “so good in those tough guy roles.”
How Did Peter Greene Die?
Here is the timeline from the reports:
- December 12, 2025: Greene died in New York City at age 60.
- December 13 to 14, 2025: Early reports said the cause had not been shared.
- February 18, 2026: The New York City medical examiner’s office found his death was accidental.
The office’s wording was “Gunshot wound of left axilla with injury of brachial artery.” The axilla is the armpit. The injury damaged the brachial artery and caused heavy bleeding.
The Los Angeles Times reported the finding from an email by the office. People also reported it. We did not find the original case report. The early December stories were out of date after the February update.
Did Peter Greene Have Children or a Wife?
Did Peter Greene Have Children?
Yes. The Guardian says he was survived by his son, Ryder. It also lists his brother John and his sister Mary-Anne.
Was Peter Greene Married?
Reports do not agree. The Guardian says he married a friend at age 20. They became estranged, and the marriage was never dissolved. Hollywood Life says he was never married. Because the reports conflict, we make no firm claim.
What Was Peter Greene Working on When He Died?
Two projects were reported. People and TheWrap named both. AP also reported that he was working on two projects, including the documentary.
| Project | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Mascots | An independent thriller with Mickey Rourke. It was expected to begin production in January 2026. |
| From the American People: The Withdrawal of USAID | A documentary he was co-producing and helping narrate, with Jason Alexander and Kathleen Turner. |
A planned project does not prove that filming started or that a film came out. Mascots was later announced as Mascotland. Production was underway by February 2026, following casting changes. Greene is not listed in the updated cast report.
Why Is Peter Greene Remembered Beyond His Villain Roles?
Manager Gregg Edwards said, “Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter.” Yet his career had more range than that line suggests.
He led Clean, Shaven and Laws of Gravity, two early independent films. He also had supporting parts in The Usual Suspects and Training Day. On TV, fans remember Justified and other shows.
These are opinions from critics and fans, and we credit them as such. The Guardian also shares comments from directors, including Nick Gomez, Lodge Kerrigan, and Steven Soderbergh.
Current Checks
| Item | Status | Check again when |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of death | Accidental gunshot wound, reported February 18 to 19, 2026 | An official correction appears |
| Birth date | October 8, 1965, per the Television Academy and The Guardian. Other sites differ. | An official correction appears |
| Mascots | Later announced as Mascotland. Production was underway by February 2026. Greene is not listed in the updated cast report. | Release news appears |
| Documentary | Reported as in progress when he died. Status not confirmed. | Release news appears |
| New credits after death | Posthumous releases include Clika (2026) and The Random Guest (2026). Both were released after his death. | A new release is confirmed |
Peter Green Actor FAQ
What was Peter Greene’s birth name?
His birth name was Peter Green. He later added an E to his last name. The Guardian says this helped separate him from another person with the same name in the Screen Actors Guild.
How old was Peter Greene when he died?
He was 60. He died on December 12, 2025, in New York City, according to AP.
What character did Peter Greene play in Pulp Fiction?
He played Zed, a security guard. Fans still remember the line “Zed’s dead.”
What character did he play in The Mask?
He played Dorian Tyrell, the main villain. His character faces the one played by Jim Carrey.
Did Peter Greene have a son?
Yes. The Guardian says his son is named Ryder. Reports about whether Greene was ever married do not agree.
Was Peter Greene the Fleetwood Mac guitarist?
No. The Fleetwood Mac guitarist was Peter Green, a British blues musician. He was born in 1946 and died in 2020. The actor was American.
What was Peter Greene’s last known documentary project?
It was From the American People: The Withdrawal of USAID. He was co-producing it and helping narrate it, with Jason Alexander and Kathleen Turner.
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