peter greene death ruled accidental after medical examiner finds gunshot wound to armpit
The New York City medical examiner has ruled that actor peter greene died from an accidental gunshot wound, closing an investigation into his death two months after he was found in his Manhattan apartment. The finding identifies a gunshot to the left armpit that damaged the brachial artery as the cause of death and classifies the manner as accidental.
Medical examiner's findings
A determination released Wednesday by the city medical examiner lists the cause of death as a gunshot wound of the left axilla with injury of the brachial artery. Greene, 60, was discovered on Dec. 12 (ET) in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Authorities have said the wound resulted in catastrophic blood loss.
The medical examiner provided no additional public details about the circumstances that led to the injury, and investigators have not released further information that would clarify how the shooting occurred. The ruling establishes that the death was not homicidal or self-inflicted in intent but accidental in nature, per the office's classification.
Career and memorable roles
Greene built a reputation as a compelling character actor who frequently portrayed menacing or troubled figures. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as the brutal security guard Zed in a landmark 1994 crime film, a performance that cemented his place in pop-culture history. That same year he played Dorian, the antagonist opposite Jim Carrey in a hit superhero-comedy, and earlier work included a striking lead in a 1993 drama in which he portrayed a man struggling with schizophrenia.
Across a career of supporting and character turns, Greene delivered unsettling, vivid performances in films such as a high-profile 1995 police drama and a celebrated late-1990s crime thriller, among others. Directors and co-stars often cited his ability to create fully formed, unpredictable villains who lingered in viewers' memories long after the credits rolled.
Unfinished projects and next steps
At the time of his death, Greene was involved with multiple projects, including work on a documentary examining the federal government's withdrawal of funding from a U. S. international aid agency. That project, along with other pending efforts, is now left unresolved as colleagues and collaborators assess how best to proceed.
Friends and industry figures have offered private remembrances while public reactions continue to emerge. With the medical examiner's determination now filed, any ongoing investigative inquiries will proceed within the framework of that accidental classification. Greene's family has not released an extensive public statement, and officials have not provided additional particulars about the events that led to the fatal wound.
Greene's body of work — from unnerving leading turns to memorable supporting parts — remains part of his legacy. The medical examiner's ruling provides official closure on the manner of his death while prompting renewed attention to both his performances and the unfinished creative work he left behind.
