Peter Greene

Actor

Peter Greene

Born October 8, 1965 in Montclair, New Jersey, USADied December 12, 202567 films

Peter Greene (born Peter Green; October 8, 1965 – December 12, 2025) was an American character actor generally known for portraying villains. He was best known for his roles in the 1994 films The Mask, in which he played the main antagonist Dorian Tyrell, and Pulp Fiction, where he portrayed Zed, a sadistic security guard.

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He did not pursue a career in acting until his mid 20s. He initially landed several roles in cinema and television in the early 1990s. His breakthrough came in 1994-1995 with roles in Pulp Fiction, The Mask, Clean, Shaven, and The Usual Suspects. He often played villains such as in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Training Day, and martial arts/crime film Fist of the Warrior.

He struggled with heroin and cocaine addiction in the 1990s. He was arrested for drug-related crimes multiple times.

He worked with director Jordan Alan twice. Once on the film Kiss and Tell, a dark comic turn for the actor and then again 4 years later in The Gentleman Bandit (aka Gentleman B). After Greene's arrests in 1998 for drug-related crimes, Alan put the actor through rehab to get him through the second film and eventually, after coming upon Greene doing heroine with Mike Starr, he was forced to replace Greene's voice because of the vocal problems caused by drugs. Despite these problems, Mr. Alan vouched for Greene to producer Tobe Jaffe for the movie Blue Streak, in which he played Martin Lawrence's nemesis.

He continued to mostly work as a character actor. He appeared in the short-lived television drama The Black Donnellys and in the opening scene of the premier of the FX series Justified. He also appeared as a policeman in Prodigy of Mobb Deep's video for "A,B,C's", as well as the focal character in House of Pain's video for "Fed Up".

He died at his Lower East Side apartment in Manhattan, New York City, on December 12, 2025, at the age of 66. In February 2026, the cause of death was declared an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the left axilla causing injury of the brachial artery.

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The best way into Peter Greene's work
The Mask posterFirst watchThe Mask19947.0as Dorian TyrrellA leading role.Timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss discovers a magical mask infused with the spirit of the Norse god Loki. Donning it transforms him into an unrestrained, green-faced, cartoon-like wild man.View film

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Filmography

67 films as actor
  1. TBAInto the BlackBuddy
  2. 20263 Days RisingEric Usher
  3. 2026The Random GuestShane
  4. 2026ClikaLieutenant Jones
  5. 2025BeggarmanVinny
  6. 2025Pet Shop DaysDealer
  7. 2024The Mick and the TrickPatrick Shannon
  8. 2024Cold BetrayalGilbert
  9. 2023CrossEthan
  10. 2023Buckle UpReacher
  11. 2023Little DixieKarl Roach
  12. 2023Out of ExileWhitman Rader
  13. 2022The CrusadersHughie
  14. 2021Body BrokersDr. Riner
  15. 2020TeslaNichols
  16. 2020Let's Get LostRay
  17. 2019SamirValentine
  18. 2019Exit 0The Writer
  19. 2018City of LiesCommander Fasulo
  20. 2016New York, New YorkDowney
  21. 2016TurnaboutLeo
  22. 2015Sweet LorraineMarcus
  23. 2013Stanley's Adventures
  24. 2012The GrasslandsBaby John
  25. 2012The ChildMartin Engler
  26. 2012The Kill HolePeter Krebbs
  27. 2012BrutalCario Morello
  28. 2012The ShoemakerDutchie
  29. 2011EarthlingSwinnert
  30. 2010Once FallenSonny
  31. 2010The Bounty HunterMahler
  32. 2008ClownClown
  33. 2007Fist of the WarriorJohn Lowe
  34. 2007Final EngagementPriest
  35. 2007Assassin's VowPriest
  36. 2006Dead and DeaderDr. Scott
  37. 2006End GamePhilip Keifer aka Jack Baldwin
  38. 2005ConfessionDetective William Fletcher
  39. 2005H.G. Wells' War of the WorldsMatt Herbert
  40. 2005Brothers in ArmsBert
  41. 2004Black CloudNorm Olsen
  42. 2003Gentleman B.Manny Breen
  43. 2002Scenes of the CrimeRick
  44. 2002Under the InfluenceStephen Tally
  45. 2001Dead Dogs LieMarcus Devlin
  46. 2001Training DayJeff (uncredited)
  47. 2001TickerDet. Artie Pluchinsky
  48. 2001Nobody's BabyVern
  49. 2000Shadow HoursDetective Adrianson
  50. 1999Blue StreakDeacon
  51. 1999Out in FiftyTony Grayson
  52. 1998Black Cat RunD.J. Wheeler
  53. 1998Permanent MidnightGus
  54. 1997Kiss & TellDetective John Finnigan
  55. 1997Double TapNash
  56. 1997Coyote RunClifton Santier / Bosco
  57. 1997Trading FavorsTeddy
  58. 1996The Rich Man's WifeCole Wilson
  59. 1996LowballJohn
  60. 1995BangAdam
  61. 1995The Usual SuspectsRedfoot the Fence (uncredited)
  62. 1995Under Siege 2: Dark TerritoryMerc #1
  63. 1995Clean, ShavenPeter Winter
  64. 1994Pulp FictionZed
  65. 1994The MaskDorian Tyrrell
  66. 1993Judgment NightSykes
  67. 1992Laws of GravityJimmy