Peter Greene cause of death: 'Pulp Fiction' actor accidentally shot himself in armpit, report says

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Published  February 18, 2026 8:52pm EST
FOX Local

FILE: Actor Peter Greene attend the "Keep Your Enemies Closer: Checkmate" screening at the School of Visual Arts Theater on October 1, 2012 in New York City.  (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

The Brief

    • "Pulp Fiction" actor Peter Greene died Dec. 12 after he accidentally shot himself in the armpit, the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office told Deadline. 
    • Greene was best known for playing Zed, a rapist security guard and serial killer, in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film "Pulp Fiction." 
    • He also played Dorian, another villain, in "The Mask" with Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, the same year.

Actor Peter Greene, best known for his roles in "Pulp Fiction" and "The Mask," died from extensive bleeding after he accidentally shot himself in the armpit, Deadline reports. 

Greene was found dead Dec. 12 inside his apartment in New York City. He was 60 years old. Here’s the latest: 

Peter Greene’s cause of death 

Greene was found during a wellness check that was requested because music had been playing in his apartment for more than 24 hours.

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The New York City Medical Examiner’s office told Deadline that Greene’s cause of death was a gunshot wound "of left axilla with injury of brachial artery" that caused extensive bleeding. The medical examiner said his death was accidental. 

What they're saying:

"Truly one of the great actors of our generation," his manager Gregg Edwards told The New York Post after his death. "His heart was as big as there was. I’m going to miss him. He was a great friend."

Greene’s life

The backstory:

Greene was best known for playing Zed, a rapist security guard and serial killer, in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film "Pulp Fiction." He also played Dorian, another villain, in "The Mask" with Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, the same year. 

In 1992, Greene starred in "Laws of Gravity. In 1993, he starred in the movie "Clean, Shaven," playing a schizophrenic man and murder suspect. 

He had roles in "The Usual Suspects" and "Training Day," among other films, and was set to start filming an independent movie, "Mascots," with Mickey Rourke in January.

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Greene was born in Montclair, New Jersey, according to IMDB, and ran away from home at 15.  TV Insider reports he was homeless and selling drugs on the streets of New York City when he found his path to acting. 

He also admitted to having a drug problem that led to a suicide attempt in 1996. He sought treatment for drug addiction shortly after. According to Deadline, Greene had reportedly been sober for at least a couple years when he died. 

"He fought his demons but overcame them," Edwards told The Post.

The Source: This article includes information from The New York Post, Deadline, IMDB, TV Insider and previous FOX Local reporting.

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