'Pulp Fiction' Star Peter Greene's Tragic Cause of Death Revealed

Pulp Fiction and The Mask star Peter Greene died from an accidental gunshot wound that severed a major artery, the New York medical examiner has revealed. The news came two months after the 60-year-old actor was found dead in his Manhattan apartment.

'Pulp Fiction' Villain's Shocking Accidental Death: Details Emerge

In December 2025, Peter Greene was found dead at the age of 60. At the time, there were a lot of questions as the cause of his death remained unknown. Now, two months later, People has revealed the startling and tragic events that led to the beloved actor's passing.

Based on a report from the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Greene died of a "gunshot wound of left axilla with injury of brachial artery" that was deemed to be an accident. In simple terms, that means that Greene accidentally shot himself in the armpit, according to this description from the Cleveland Clinic.

"The axilla (pronounced “ak-SIH-luh”) is the area located between your chest and upper arm. It’s under your shoulder joint where your arm connects to your shoulder. It’s also called an armpit or underarm." The Cleveland Clinic also states that the brachial artery "supplies oxygen-rich blood to your upper arm," which explains why getting shot there can cause a lethal amount of blood loss.

According to the New York Post, Greene was found dead in his Manhattan apartment after a wellness check was performed because music could be heard coming from his apartment for over 24 hours straight.

Greene is best known for playing the sadistic security guard Zed in Pulp Fiction and the principal villain in The Mask, Dorian Tyrell. He also had memorable supporting roles in many movies, including Training Day, The Usual Suspects, Judgment Night, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Blue Streak, and many more.

The actor's manager, Gregg Edwards, spoke to the New York Daily News and explained that, despite being fantastic at portraying villains, the actor had a great heart. “He was a unique individual. One of the most brilliant character actors on the planet. Had a really good heart. Cared about people."

Our thoughts are with Peter Greene’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.