‘Pulp Fiction’ star Peter Greene died from accidental gunshot, medical examiner confirms

Actor Peter Greene died from an accidental gunshot wound, New York’s medical examiner has confirmed, two months after he was found dead in his Manhattan apartment.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said on Wednesday that the 60-year-old died from a gunshot wound to the left axilla, or armpit, which caused injury to the brachial artery. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

Greene was discovered at his home on December 12 following a welfare check. According to his manager, Gregg Edwards, music had reportedly been playing inside the apartment for more than 24 hours before authorities were alerted.

His death was first reported by the New York Daily News. Edwards confirmed the news in a statement on December 13.

“Nobody played a bad guy better than Peter,” Edwards told NBC News at the time. “But he also had a gentle side that most people never saw, and a heart as big as gold.”

Greene was widely known for his role as Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and as antagonist Dorian Tyrell in The Mask, starring opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz.

Born in New Jersey, Greene began his screen career in 1990 with an appearance in the NBC crime drama Hardball. His film debut followed in 1992 with Laws of Gravity, alongside Edie Falco.

He later appeared in several notable films, including Clean Shaven in 1993, The Usual Suspects in 1995, Kiss & Tell in 1997, Blue Streak in 1999 and Training Day in 2001, acting alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.

Speaking to Deadline, Edwards described Greene as “one of the best character actors on the planet”, adding that he was “a good friend who would give you the shirt off his back”.

Greene had recently been co-producing and narrating the documentary From the American People: The Withdrawal of USAID, alongside Jason Alexander and Kathleen Turner, a project focused on the global impact of USAID’s dismantling.

Edwards shared a GoFundMe linked to the film, saying the best way to honour the actor would be to help raise awareness about the cause.