Peter Greene, the prolific character actor best known for his chilling portrayal of the sadistic rapist “Zed” in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction, has died. He was 61. The news of his passing on Friday, December 13, 2025, was confirmed by his family to CNN, though a cause of death was not provided.
Greene’s brief but unforgettable scene in Pulp Fiction cemented his place in cinematic history. As the corrupt police officer Zed, he menaced Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) and Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) with a terrifying, unhinged calm. His role, while small, was a crucial component of the film’s dark, unpredictable violence and has been analyzed and referenced by fans for decades.
His performance was so viscerally effective that it often overshadowed a long and varied career. Born in 1964, Greene brought a unique, often unsettling intensity to a wide range of roles throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Following Pulp Fiction, Greene delivered another standout performance as the unpredictable, hot-tempered mobster “Redfoot” in Christopher Nolan’s 2000 breakout film Memento, showcasing his ability to bring menace to complex, non-linear storytelling. That same year, he took on a more dramatic turn as Eddie Olczyk in the Oscar-winning film Traffic, directed by Steven Soderbergh.
His filmography is a testament to his versatility as a “that guy” character actor. He appeared as a villain opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in The Mask of Zorro (as a secondary antagonist), brought his distinctive presence to the cult classic The Usual Suspects (as a DEA agent), and played key roles in films like Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Judgment Night, and The Perfect Storm.
Greene also made numerous television appearances, featuring in episodes of hit shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The X-Files, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
While the character of Zed defined his public image, Greene’s career was a showcase of a powerful and distinctive actor who could elevate any scene he was in. His death marks the loss of a performer whose work left a lasting imprint on the landscape of 90s cinema. He is survived by family and friends.
