The death of Peter Greene (60) has been one of the most tragic and unusual stories in Hollywood recently. While he actually passed away in December 2025, the official medical examiner’s report was just released on February 18, 2026, finally clearing up the “mystery” that had fans speculating for months.
Here are the detailed circumstances surrounding his passing:
1. The Discovery (December 12, 2025)
Neighbors in his Lower East Side apartment building in Manhattan became concerned after hearing loud Christmas music (specifically reported as blaring for over 24 hours) coming from his unit.
- The Scene: When police and a locksmith entered at 3:25 p.m., they found Peter Greene face-down on the floor.
- Initial Shock: There was “blood everywhere” and visible injuries to his face, leading many to initially fear a violent crime or struggle had occurred.
2. The Official Cause of Death (Confirmed Feb 2026)
After a two-month investigation, the New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death an accident.
- The Injury: He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the left armpit (axilla).
- The Fatal Blow: The bullet struck his brachial artery. Because this is a major artery, it caused rapid, massive blood loss, leading to a quick loss of consciousness and death.
- Manner: It was officially classified as accidental, not a suicide or homicide.
3. The “Westies” Note
One of the most discussed details was a handwritten note found at the scene that read: “I’m still a Westie.”
- Context: This refers to the “Westies,” a notorious Irish-American gang from Hell’s Kitchen active in the 70s and 80s.
- Significance: While it sounded like a “gangland” clue, friends and investigators believe it was a sentimental reference to his roots and the “tough guy” persona he was famous for playing. Greene grew up in that era and often channeled that energy into his roles in Pulp Fiction and The Mask.
4. Why the Timing was Tragic
His manager, Gregg Edwards, revealed that Peter Greene was actually in a very positive place before the accident:
- Surgery: He was scheduled to have surgery to remove a benign (non-cancerous) tumor from his lung on the very day he was found.
- Career: He had nearly 10 projects in development and was set to start filming a new movie called Mascots with Mickey Rourke in January 2026.
- Personal Side: Despite his terrifying on-screen presence as villains like Zed or Dorian Tyrell, his friends described him as a “gentle soul” with a “heart of gold” who had successfully overcome personal demons from his past.
Key Roles & Career Highlights
If you want to revisit his work, these are the performances fans are currently celebrating:
| Film / Project | Character | Why It Is Celebrated |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | Zed | Played the chillingly depraved security guard in the infamous pawn shop scene. Responsible for the legendary line, “Zed’s dead, baby.” |
| The Mask (1994) | Dorian Tyrell | The main villain opposite Jim Carrey. Fans remember him for being genuinely terrifying once he put on the mask, contrasting the film’s comedy with real menace. |
| The Usual Suspects (1995) | Redfoot | A standout “million-dollar day player” role. He played the LA fence who famously flicked a cigarette at Stephen Baldwin’s face (an unscripted moment). |
| Clean, Shaven (1993) | Peter Winter | Widely considered his best purely “acting” role. He played a man with schizophrenia with such raw, haunting realism that it won him Best Actor at the Taormina Film Fest. |
| Blue Streak (1999) | Deacon | Showed his range by playing a “cool” criminal antagonist against Martin Lawrence’s high-energy comedy. |
| Training Day (2001) | Jeff | Played a corrupt narcotics officer. Even in a small role alongside Denzel Washington, his intense screen presence made the character memorable. |
| Laws of Gravity (1992) | Jimmy | His breakout lead role in a gritty Brooklyn crime drama. This performance is what originally caught the attention of directors like Quentin Tarantino. |
| The Continental (2023) | Uncle Charlie | One of his final major roles, playing the younger version of the body-disposal expert from the John Wick universe, connecting him to a new generation of fans. |