News | International
17 Dec 2025 16:15
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Pulp Fiction, The Mask actor Peter Greene dies aged 60

    Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain, Zed in Pulp Fiction, has died.


    Peter Greene, a character actor best known for his role as the iconic villain, Zed in Pulp Fiction, has died.

    He was 60.

    He died in his home in New York City, his manager, Gregg Edwards confirmed on Friday.

    His cause of death was not immediately released.

    "He was just a terrific guy," Mr Edwards said.

    "Arguably one of the greatest character actors on the planet; has worked with everybody."

    Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Greene landed some of his first leading roles in Laws of Gravity in 1992 and Clean, Shaven in 1993.

    In 1994, he played the memorable villain in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, who is brought in to torture characters played by Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. 

    That same year, he played another leading villain opposite Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in The Mask.

    Greene was working on two projects when he died, including a documentary about the federal government's withdrawal of funding from the US Agency for International Development, according to Edwards.

    He was also about to begin production with Mickey Rourke on an independent thriller called Mascots.

    "We've been friends for over a decade," Mr Edwards said. 

    "Just the nicest man."

    In a rare interview with Sissy Gamache, Greene said he initially was "disappointed" with the script for Pulp Fiction and he turned down the role. 

    "The way it was written wasn't my cup of tea," he said. 

    "Quentin [Tarantino], I don't know why he pressed for me to do it, but he came back a couple of times and then I finally said, 'I'll do it if I can do it any way I wanted to,' thinking he would never say that he would allow me to do it. 

    "We just improvised the whole scene and we kept the language that was there."

    Greene was known for his ability to play villains with other credits including Redfoot in The Usual Suspects and villain roles in Judgment Night, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Training Day, and The Bounty Hunter.

    He is survived by a sister and a brother.

    AP/ABC


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     17 Dec: FBI releases footage of Brown University shooting suspect
     17 Dec: Multi-division world champion Terence Crawford announces retirement from boxing at age 38
     17 Dec: Why photos are not the most harmful thing we share about our kids online
     17 Dec: Man who stabbed 11yo Australian tourist in London to be detained indefinitely
     17 Dec: Today in History, December 17: Kim Jong-il's death kept secret
     16 Dec: Deciding to get a pet when I didn't think I could
     16 Dec: Rob Reiner's classic films and the lines that have endured
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Highlanders have signed promising Southland playmaker Mika Muliaina for the next four years More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Horticulture NZ's emphasising the importance of backing growers - as exports climb to record levels More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Jevon McSkimming sentencing: why a public inquiry into the police should be next 16:07

    Law and Order:
    FBI releases footage of Brown University shooting suspect 15:57

    Entertainment:
    Glenn Close was "too clueless" to realise she went on a date with Robert Redford 15:50

    Law and Order:
    The Crown believes Jevon McSkimming must have known he was committing crimes, given his position of power 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Hugh Jackman once secretly wet himself on stage during Beauty and the Beast 15:20

    Boxing:
    Multi-division world champion Terence Crawford announces retirement from boxing at age 38 15:17

    Law and Order:
    Former deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming's sentencing is underway in the Wellington District Court - where more than a dozen people have filed into the public gallery 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Amanda Seyfried has refused to apologise for comments about Charlie Kirk 14:50

    Entertainment:
    Idris Elba plans to give up acting to focus on directing "eventually" 14:20

    National:
    Hong Kong pro-democracy publisher convicted of sedition, in major blow to press freedom 14:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd