Peter Greene
Encyclopedia
Peter Greene is an American character actor
.
A native of Montclair, New Jersey
, Greene did not pursue a career in acting until his mid 20s. He initially landed several roles in cinema and television in the early 1990s.
Greene's breakthrough came in 1994-1995 with a role in Pulp Fiction
, The Mask
, Clean, Shaven
, and The Usual Suspects
. Greene is possibly best remembered for his role in Pulp Fiction, as Zed who rape
s Marsellus Wallace. The Mask saw him play the villainous Dorian Tyrell opposite Jim Carrey
and Cameron Diaz
. Greene's most accomplished role was that of schizophrenic
Peter Winter in Clean, Shaven. The Usual Suspects saw him play the small but memorable character, Redfoot. Greene often plays villains such as in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
, Training Day
(as a corrupt narcotics officer) and martial arts/crime film Fist of the Warrior
(opposite Ho-Sung Pak, Roger Guenveur Smith
and Sherilyn Fenn
).
He worked with one director, Jordan Alan, twice: once on the film Kiss and Tell, a dark comic turn for the actor and then again 4 years later in The Gentleman Bandit (aka Gentleman B). After Greene's arrests in 1998 for drug related crimes, Alan had to put the actor through rehab to get him through the second film and eventually, after coming upon Greene doing heroin with Mike Starr, he was forced to replace Greene's voice because of the vocal problems caused by drugs. Despite these problems, Mr. Alan vouched for Greene to producer Tobe Jaffe for the movie Blue Streak
, in which Greene played Martin Lawrence
's nemesis.
Greene has continued to work mostly as a character actor. He appeared in the short-lived television drama The Black Donnellys
. He also appeared as a policeman in Prodigy
of Mobb Deep's video for "A,B,C's", as well as the focal character in House of Pain
's video for "Fed Up".
Greene recently appeared in the opening scene of the premiere of the new FX series Justified
.
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
.
A native of Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, Greene did not pursue a career in acting until his mid 20s. He initially landed several roles in cinema and television in the early 1990s.
Greene's breakthrough came in 1994-1995 with a role in Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (film)
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
, The Mask
The Mask (film)
The Mask is a 1994 American superhero comedy film based on a series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. This film was directed by Chuck Russell, and produced by Dark Horse Entertainment and New Line Cinema, and originally released to movie theatres on July 29, 1994 through New Line...
, Clean, Shaven
Clean, Shaven
Clean, Shaven is a 1994 film directed by Lodge Kerrigan, in which Peter Winter is a schizophrenic man desperately trying to get his daughter back from her adoptive mother...
, and The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects is a 1995 American neo-noir film written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. It stars Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey and Pete Postlethwaite....
. Greene is possibly best remembered for his role in Pulp Fiction, as Zed who rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s Marsellus Wallace. The Mask saw him play the villainous Dorian Tyrell opposite Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
and Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Michelle Diaz is an American actress and former model. She became famous during the 1990s with roles in the movies The Mask, My Best Friend's Wedding, and There's Something About Mary. Other high-profile credits include the two Charlie's Angels films, voicing the character Princess Fiona...
. Greene's most accomplished role was that of schizophrenic
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
Peter Winter in Clean, Shaven. The Usual Suspects saw him play the small but memorable character, Redfoot. Greene often plays villains such as in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is a 1995 American action film set on board a train traveling through the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Los Angeles. Directed by Geoff Murphy, it stars Steven Seagal as the ex-Navy SEAL, Casey Ryback and is the sequel to the 1992 film Under Siege also starring Seagal....
, Training Day
Training Day
Training Day is a 2001 crime drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by David Ayer, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The film follows two LAPD narcotics detectives over a 24-hour period in the gang neighborhoods of South and East Los Angeles.The film was a box office success and...
(as a corrupt narcotics officer) and martial arts/crime film Fist of the Warrior
Fist of the Warrior
Fist of the Warrior, formerly known as Lesser of Three Evils, is a martial arts/crime film directed by Wayne A. Kennedy in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Ho-Sung Pak, Peter Greene, Roger Guenveur Smith and Sherilyn Fenn, and features fight choreography by Ho-Sung Pak and Wayne A....
(opposite Ho-Sung Pak, Roger Guenveur Smith
Roger Guenveur Smith
Roger Guenveur Smith is an American actor, director, and writer.-Early life:Smith was born in Berkeley, California, the son of Helen Guenveur, a dentist, and Sherman Smith, a judge...
and Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn is an American actress and filmmaker. She came to international attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the 1990 cult TV series Twin Peaks...
).
He worked with one director, Jordan Alan, twice: once on the film Kiss and Tell, a dark comic turn for the actor and then again 4 years later in The Gentleman Bandit (aka Gentleman B). After Greene's arrests in 1998 for drug related crimes, Alan had to put the actor through rehab to get him through the second film and eventually, after coming upon Greene doing heroin with Mike Starr, he was forced to replace Greene's voice because of the vocal problems caused by drugs. Despite these problems, Mr. Alan vouched for Greene to producer Tobe Jaffe for the movie Blue Streak
Blue Streak (film)
Blue Streak is a 1999 American action comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Martin Lawrence. The film is a remake of the 1965 British film The Big Job, although the original film is uncredited...
, in which Greene played Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence
Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House...
's nemesis.
Greene has continued to work mostly as a character actor. He appeared in the short-lived television drama The Black Donnellys
The Black Donnellys
The Black Donnellys is an American television drama that debuted on NBC on February 26, 2007 and last aired on April 2, 2007. Thereafter, NBC began releasing new episodes weekly on until the series was officially canceled. The Black Donnellys was created by Paul Haggis and Robert Moresco...
. He also appeared as a policeman in Prodigy
Prodigy (rapper)
Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
of Mobb Deep's video for "A,B,C's", as well as the focal character in House of Pain
House of Pain
House of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
's video for "Fed Up".
Greene recently appeared in the opening scene of the premiere of the new FX series Justified
Justified (TV series)
Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...
.
Filmography
- The Bounty HunterThe Bounty Hunter (2010 film)The Bounty Hunter is a 2010 American action comedy film directed by Andy Tennant, starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. The story centers on a bounty hunter hired to retrieve his ex-wife who has skipped bail...
(2010), Mahler - JustifiedJustified (TV series)Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...
(2010), Thomas Buckley - Dead Metropolis (2009) (in production), Dr. Frost
- Caller ID (2010) (post-production), Admissions Counselor
- Sweet Lorraine (2010) (post-production), Marcus
- Earthling (2010), Swinnert
- Once FallenOnce FallenOnce Fallen is a 2010 crime film starring Brian Presley, Taraji P. Henson, and Ed Harris. Filming took place in Los Angeles, California.-Plot:...
(2009) (post-production), Sonny Coogan - The Grasslands (2009) (post-production), Baby John
- Shanghai Hotel (2008) (post-production), Mr. Capuzzi
- Once More (2009) (completed), Jack
- Forget Me NotForget Me Not (2009 film)Forget Me Not is a 2009 American supernatural horror film. The film stars Cody Linley, Carly Schroeder, Chloe Bridges, Jillian Murray, and Micah Alberti. It is also written and directed by Tyler Oliver, and is a limited release.-Plot:...
(2009) (completed), Boyfriend - Blue Knight (2009), Sergeant Donato
- Clown (2008), Clown
- Life on MarsLife on Mars (U.S. TV series)Life on Mars was a science fiction crime drama television series which originally aired on ABC from October 9, 2008 to April 1, 2009. It is an adaptation of the BAFTA-winning original UK series of the same name produced by the BBC...
(2008) (U.S. TV Series), Jimmy McManus - I'm Calling Frank (2007), Bobby
- Bloom (2007), Jim
- Final Engagement (2007), Priest
- Love Hollywood Style (2006), Theodor Caruso
- End GameEnd Game (2006 film)End Game is a 2006 action/thriller film, written and directed by Andy Cheng. The film stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Secret Service agent Alex Thomas, who is shot in the hand, while unsuccessfully trying to protect the President from an assassin's bullet...
(2006), Jack Baldwin - Brothers in Arms (2005), Bert
- H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005), Matt Herbert
- From the Day in (2005), Chat
- Lesser of Three Evils (2005), John Lowe
- Confession (2005), Detective William Fletcher
- Black CloudBlack CloudBlack Cloud is a 2004 American film directed and written by Rick Schroder.- Plot:Black Cloud , a young Navajo man, must take a journey of personal growth to prepare himself for a chance at boxing in the Olympics...
(2004), Norm Olsen - Under the Influence (2002), Stephen Tally
- Dead Dogs Lie (2001), Marcus Devlin
- Scenes of the CrimeScenes of the CrimeScenes of the Crime is a 2001 film directed by Dominique Forma and written by Daniel Golka, Amit Mehta, and Forma. It was met with mixed opinions and moderate, but ultimately positive reviews....
(2001), Rick - Training DayTraining DayTraining Day is a 2001 crime drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by David Ayer, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The film follows two LAPD narcotics detectives over a 24-hour period in the gang neighborhoods of South and East Los Angeles.The film was a box office success and...
(2001), Jeff - TickerTicker (2001 film)Ticker is a 2001 action film directed by Albert Pyun, starring Tom Sizemore, Dennis Hopper, Steven Seagal, Jaime Pressley, Nas and Ice-T.-Plot:...
(2001), Det. Artie Pluchinsky - Nobody's BabyNobody's BabyNobody's Baby is a 2001 comedy film written and directed by David Seltzer and starring Gary Oldman and Skeet Ulrich.-Cast:* Skeet Ulrich as Billy Raedeen* Gary Oldman as Buford Bill* Radha Mitchell as Shauna Louise* Mary Steenburgen as Estelle...
(2001), Vern - Shadow HoursShadow HoursA 2000 film with Peter Weller as Stuart Chappell and Balthazar Getty as Michael Holloway.Michael Holloway is a recovering addict working as a gas station attendant to support his pregnant wife, Chloe Rebecca Gayheart. Michael is drawn into the seedy underworld of Los Angeles by Stuart Chappell, a...
(2000), Det. Steve Andrianson - Gentleman B. (2000), Manny Breen
- Blue StreakBlue Streak (film)Blue Streak is a 1999 American action comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Martin Lawrence. The film is a remake of the 1965 British film The Big Job, although the original film is uncredited...
(1999), Deacon - Out in FiftyOut in FiftyOut in Fifty is a 1999 independent film directed and written by Bojesse Christopher and Scott Leet, which also stars in this film together with actor Mickey Rourke. Film also stars Peter Greene, Ed Lauter, Balthazar Getty, James Avery and Christina Applegate as Lilah...
(1999), Tony Grayson - The Boss (1999)
- Permanent MidnightPermanent MidnightPermanent Midnight is a 1998 biographical romantic comedy-drama film directed by David Veloz starring Ben Stiller. The film is based on Jerry Stahl's autobiographical book of the same name, and tells the story of Stahl's rise from a small-time television writer to his success as a comedy writer...
(1998), Gus - Do Me a Favor (1997), Teddy
- Double Tap (1997), Nash
- The Rich Man's WifeThe Rich Man's WifeThe Rich Man's Wife is a 1996 American thriller film written and directed by Amy Holden Jones. The title character becomes a suspect when her husband is murdered and the investigating detectives are suspicious of her alibi.-Plot:...
(1996), Cole Wilson - Coyote Run (1996), Clifton Santier / Bosco
- Kiss & Tell (1996), Detective John Finnigan
- Snakeland (1996), Johnny
- Lowball (1996), John
- BangBang (film)Bang is a 1997 independent film directed by Ash.-Plot:Bang is a story about an unnamed young woman living in Los Angeles, played by Darling Narita...
(1995), Adam - Under Siege 2: Dark TerritoryUnder Siege 2: Dark TerritoryUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory is a 1995 American action film set on board a train traveling through the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Los Angeles. Directed by Geoff Murphy, it stars Steven Seagal as the ex-Navy SEAL, Casey Ryback and is the sequel to the 1992 film Under Siege also starring Seagal....
(1995), Mercenary #1 - The Usual SuspectsThe Usual SuspectsThe Usual Suspects is a 1995 American neo-noir film written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. It stars Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey and Pete Postlethwaite....
(1995) (uncredited), Redfoot the Fence - The MaskThe Mask (film)The Mask is a 1994 American superhero comedy film based on a series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. This film was directed by Chuck Russell, and produced by Dark Horse Entertainment and New Line Cinema, and originally released to movie theatres on July 29, 1994 through New Line...
(1994), Dorian Tyrell - Pulp FictionPulp Fiction (film)Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
(1994), Zed - Judgment NightJudgment Night (film)Judgment Night is a 1993 action thriller film directed by Stephen Hopkins and starring Emilio Estévez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven and Stephen Dorff as a group of friends on the run from a group of drug dealers after they witness a murder...
(1993), Sykes - Clean, ShavenClean, ShavenClean, Shaven is a 1994 film directed by Lodge Kerrigan, in which Peter Winter is a schizophrenic man desperately trying to get his daughter back from her adoptive mother...
(1993), Peter Winter - Laws of Gravity (1992), Jimmy