Actor Peter Greene, known for portraying intense and often menacing characters in films including “The Mask” and “Pulp Fiction,” was found dead Friday afternoon inside his Lower East Side apartment, his longtime manager said. He was 60.
According to the New York Post, Greene was discovered unresponsive in his Clinton Street apartment at about 3:25 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and his manager, Gregg Edwards.
In addition to “The Mask” and “Pulp Fiction,” his work included roles in “The Usual Suspects,” “Laws of Gravity,” “Clean, Shaven,” “Blue Streak,” and “Training Day.”
Authorities said no foul play is suspected, and the cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.
“He was a terrific guy,” Edwards said Friday night. “Truly one of the great actors of our generation. His heart was as big as there was. I’m going to miss him. He was a great friend.”
Greene became widely recognized in the 1990s for playing memorable villains, including the ruthless mobster Dorian Tyrell in “The Mask” opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, a performance Edwards called “arguably his best role.”
He also portrayed Zed, the sadistic security guard in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction.”
While Greene had a reputation at times for being difficult to work with, Edwards described him as a perfectionist who was deeply committed to his craft.
“He worked with so many amazing actors and directors,” Edwards said. “He fought his demons but overcame them.”
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene left home at age 15 and lived on the streets of New York City. In a 1996 interview with Premier magazine, he said he struggled with drug use and later dealt drugs before finding success as an actor.
After a suicide attempt in March 1996, he sought treatment for addiction, according to that profile.
Over the course of his career, Greene amassed about 95 film and television credits.
Edwards said Greene was preparing to begin production in January on an independent thriller titled “Mascots,” in which he was set to star alongside Mickey Rourke.
Edwards, who is based in California, said he notified the film’s writer-director, Kerry Mondragón, of Greene’s death.
“They were very upset,” Edwards said.
Greene’s piercing blue eyes and intense screen presence made him a distinctive figure in American cinema, particularly during the 1990s, when his performances helped define a generation of crime and thriller films.
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