Peter Greene, the American actor known for his roles in films such as Pulp Fiction, The Mask and Usual Suspects, was found dead at age 60 on Friday in his apartment on New York’s Lower East Side in circumstances that have reopened questions and speculation about what happened that evening, even though authorities do not initially suspect a crime, pending autopsy results.
The finding that set off alarm bells
Greene was found unconscious and lifeless after a call from neighbors who alerted that music had been heard from his apartment for more than 24 hours, according to police sources quoted by the U.S. press. It was a locksmith who, after gaining access to the interior, found an image that witnesses themselves described as shocking. A neighbor who spoke to the New York Daily News told exactly how the performer was at the time he saw him: “Peter was lying on the floor, face down, with wounds on his face and blood everywhere”.
The body of the actor, who had been declared dead at the scene by the police, was found without apparent company of other people in the apartment, in which, according to initial reports, in addition to blood there was a handwritten note. The note contained a phrase that has attracted the attention of investigators and the media: “I’m still a Westie”, in reference to a mafia group of Irish origin from the seventies that operated in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.
The presence of the note has fueled doubts and speculation, although authorities have so far avoided linking the finding to a specific cause beyond the routine investigation that will continue with an autopsy and other forensic tests.
The mysterious note and its possible meaning
The note found next to the body, with the phrase “I’m still a Westie,” has been interpreted by some as a symbolic gesture, although its true meaning in this context remains unclear. The term “Westie” refers to a mafia group from New York’s past, and its appearance in a scene such as this raised multiple questions as to whether it had any bearing on Greene’s personal life or was an item deliberately left behind to attract attention.
The media that reported the discovery of the note also highlighted its bizarre nature, in a case in which no public evidence of external violence or apparent motive has been detected so far to link the death to a criminal act, according to the police.
Peter Greene’s career and life
Peter Greene was born in October 1965 in Montclair, New Jersey, and established himself as one of the most recognizable actors of the 1990s thanks to his contribution to multiple villain and complex character roles in film and television. His portrayal of Zed in Pulp Fiction (1994) is among the most memorable roles of his career, making his mark in one of the most influential films of modern cinema.
That same year, Greene also starred in The Mask ( 1994), one of his most endearing roles, playing a delinquent named Dorian Tyrell. Other important works in his filmography include Usual Suspects ( 1995) and about forty other titles, in which he frequently played villains, corrupt cops or marginal characters with enormous dramatic force.
Before his leap to the movies, Greene began working in theater in New York at the age of 25. His stage training allowed him to establish himself as a versatile actor, able to move between the most intense drama and comedy with great ease. Throughout his career he also worked with directors of the stature of Guy Ritchie and participated in series and independent films, maintaining a constant presence in the industry.
His recent life and pending projects
At the time of his death, Greene was scheduled to begin filming a new thriller with actor Mickey Rourke, indicating that he was still active professionally. Although in recent years he participated in lower-profile projects compared to his great successes, he continued to work in film and television with roles that reflected his long career and his ability to play characters marked by a strong stage presence.
The actor’s entourage, who had not publicly known serious illness in recent times, was surprised by the news of his death. Years ago, Greene had struggled with addictions, but according to people close to him, he had been rehabilitated and away from such problems for some time.
The last conversation with his manager
Greene’s manager, Gregg Edwards, offered some details about the days leading up to the discovery. Speaking to the New York Post, Edwards recalled the last phone call with the actor: “It was a totally normal conversation,” he said. The manager explained that Greene was “a little nervous” about a scheduled surgery to remove a benign tumor near his lung, an operation that Edwards said was “not too serious.”
Edwards also confirmed that the surgery was scheduled for Friday, the same day Greene’s body was discovered, adding a further element of mystery to the case and complicating the understanding of what happened.
