Pulp Fiction Actor Peter Greene’s Cause of Death Revealed 2 Months After Being Found Dead in N.Y.C. Apartment

Peter Greene’s cause of death has been released, two months after he was found dead in his New York City apartment on Friday, Dec. 12.

New York’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Wednesday, Feb. 18, that Greene, 60, died from a gunshot wound to the left axilla (armpit) that injured the brachial artery. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

Greene’s death was first reported by the New York Daily News. His manager, Gregg Edwards, confirmed he was found in his apartment and told NBC News that a wellness check was requested after music was heard playing in the home for more than 24 hours. Edwards said he had spoken with Greene earlier in the week.

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

Greene’s first on-screen role came in 1990 with an episode of the NBC crime drama Hardball. He made his film debut in 1992’s Laws of Gravity, appearing alongside Edie Falco.

He went on to land several notable roles in the early 1990s, including Clean, Shaven (1993), The Mask (1994) as antagonist Dorian Tyrell opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, and Pulp Fiction (1994), in which he played Zed.

His later film credits included The Usual Suspects (1995), Kiss & Tell (1997), Blue Streak (1999), and Training Day (2001), where he appeared opposite Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.

“He was one of the best character actors on the planet,” Edwards said. “He was a good friend who would give you the shirt off his back. He was loved and will be missed.”

Edwards also said Greene’s most recent work was tied to a documentary project focused on raising awareness about global deaths linked to the dismantling of USAID. Greene was co-producing and served as one of the narrators for From the American People: The Withdrawal of USAID, alongside Jason Alexander and Kathleen Turner.

Edwards shared a fundraising page connected to the project and said the best way to honor Greene would be to help spread awareness about the issue.