Award-winning actor Peter Greene was found dead in his New York City apartment on Dec. 12 at age 60, after suffering an accidental gunshot wound, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
He was discovered in his Lower East Side home on the same day he was scheduled for surgery to remove a benign lung tumor. Authorities ruled his death an accident, confirming he was shot in the upper arm, damaging a major artery. No foul play is suspected.
Greene’s death initially sparked speculation due to his past struggles with addiction and mental health, but officials confirmed it was not self-inflicted.
Police also reportedly found a handwritten note near his body reading, “I’m still a Westie.” He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Greene was best known for his intense roles in 1990s crime films, including Zed in Pulp Fiction (1994), Dorian Tyrell in The Mask (1994), and appearances in The Usual Suspects and Blue Streak. He also worked in TV shows like Law & Order and The X-Files.
Despite personal struggles with substance abuse, he remained active in independent film later in life and is remembered as a powerful character actor of his generation.