The death of Peter Greene has been officially classified as an accident, two months after the actor was discovered deceased in his New York City apartment at age 60.
Greene was found in his Lower East Side home on the afternoon of December 12, with visible injuries. This week, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed he died from a gunshot wound to the left axilla that severed the brachial artery — a major blood vessel supplying the upper arm. The fatal injury was determined to be accidental.
Damage to the axillary or brachial artery can prove deadly within minutes if not treated immediately.
When his body was first discovered, law enforcement sources said he had sustained injuries, though the cause had not yet been determined. Authorities were initially unable to confirm whether his death was the result of foul play, suicide, drugs, or another factor.
Police were alerted after neighbors reported loud music playing from his apartment for several days. Officers conducted a welfare check and entered the unit with the help of a locksmith. One neighbor later claimed Greene was found face down with significant blood at the scene, and a handwritten note was reportedly recovered.
Greene was widely known for portraying memorable villains, including Zed in Pulp Fiction and mobster Dorian Tyrell opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask. He also appeared in The Usual Suspects and built a career spanning nearly 95 acting credits.
His longtime manager, Gregg Edwards, described him as a gifted performer and loyal friend, calling him “one of the great actors of our generation” with a generous heart. While Greene sometimes carried a reputation for being intense on set, Edwards said he was a perfectionist dedicated to getting each role exactly right.
Beyond his breakout roles in the 1990s, Greene had been preparing to begin work in January on an independent thriller titled Mascots alongside Mickey Rourke, and was also attached to star in the crime drama State of Confusion.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene left home at 15 and lived on the streets of New York before eventually turning to drugs and later pursuing acting in his mid-20s. After a suicide attempt in 1996, he sought treatment for addiction. He faced further struggles over the years, including a 2007 arrest for crack cocaine possession.
Despite personal battles, colleagues said he overcame many of his demons and remained deeply committed to his craft. Greene is survived by his sister and brother.
