This Pulp Fiction Actor Delivered An Underrated Comic Book Villain Performance In a Jim Carrey Classic

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Everyone agrees that Jim Carrey is the standout star. His incredible comedic skills shine as he plays the cheerful, green-faced hero who gains almost unlimited powers when he puts on a magical mask.

Despite the film’s success, many believe the real strength of the 1994 hit lay with the actor who played the villain. Following his recent passing on December 12, 2025, at the age of 60, it’s time we recognize this often-overlooked actor and celebrate his talent for portraying compelling villains.

The Mask 1994 Movie Trailer

Villainy Was Peter Greene’s Specialty

It is hard to find a movie or TV show starring Peter Greene in which he is not playing a despicable human being. If not, one can usually bet that his role is at least going to be one of a dark variety.The New Jersey native was born with a face, voice and overall aura that made him an intimidating presence onscreen. He used this to his advantage beautifully throughout his career, from his film debut in the 1992 crime drama, Laws of Gravity, as a desperate Brooklyn street tough to his guest spot on the as professional cleaner, Uncle Charlie.Of course, the film that most people might associate Peter Greene with is Quentin Tarantino’s , Pulp Fiction​​​​​. Greene only appears briefly in the dazzling 1994 thriller as Zed, a security guard who moonlights as a cold sexual predator whom Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) and Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), unfortunately, cross paths with. Yet, it is an unforgettable performance that leaves the audience petrified as they cannot help but hang on to his every forboding word.Zed was only one of many intense and memorably mean roles immortalized by Greene’s legacy, which most famously include Redfoot the Fence in 1995’s The Usual Suspects, ruthless thief Deacon in the Martin Lawrence-led comedy Blue Streak from 1999 and in 2001’s Training Day as the corrupt Detective Jeff. Those do not even cover his small-screen bad guy roles, such as toe-chopping Irish gangster “Dokey” Farrell in The Black Donnellys or the ill-fated “Tommy Bucks” in the pilot episode of Justified.When it comes to character actors with a penchant for playing bad guys, Peter Greene was absolutely one of the best. There may not be any better proof of this than in The Mask.

The Mask Might Be Peter Greene’s Magnum Opus

The one thing people remember most from , is the laughs that come courtesy of Jim Carrey’s uproarious, high-energy antics as Stanley Ipkiss’ “masked” alter ego. As a result, it is more often cited as a funny, family-friendly adventure, but that is not quite true.Director Chuck Russell’s hit is a full-blooded crime thriller that just so happens to have a supernatural twist and significant portions with an overtly comedic tone. The one thing anchoring the story to its earnest core is Peter Greene and his performance as Dorian Tyrell.He is exquisitely stone-cold in his portrayal of the power-hungry mafioso, keeping the stakes high and the tension taut throughout, even when The Mask indulges in cartoonish comedy bliss. That being said, he does effectively steer into the film’s absurdist skids when the story calls for it.For instance, when “The Mask” breaks the fourth wall to deliver an Oscar speech to an imaginary audience, Tyrell somehow takes notice of this and quickly proceeds to fix his hair and compose himself for the crowd. Because he was known to improvise on set, it might not be much of a stretch to imagine that he came up with that ingenious bit on the spot.Some might argue that that better matches the tone of John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke’s original, pitch-black Dark Horse Comics series. However, the darkness is present, and it is Peter Greene who singlehandedly keeps things dim.It should be noted, however, that Peter Greene is not the one playing Dorian Tyrell’s transformed state in The Mask. The portrayal of his huffing, hulking alter ego is shared by Garret T. Sato, who also played a Mongol in 1994’s The Shadow, and pro wrestler Jeep Swenson, who later appeared in Batman & Robin as Bane.However, even that green-faced monstrosity is not nearly as scary as Greene keeping things grounded as the mobster in human form. If any silver lining should come from his passing, more people may finally be inclined to recognize and better appreciate the actor’s dynamite portrayal of one of the all-time most next time they watch The Mask.

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The Mask

Released in 1994, The Mask is a comedic superhero film that stars Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss, a shy and downtrodden bank clerk. One night, Stanley discovers a supernatural mask that grants the wearer extraordinary powers. Directed by Chuck Russell, The Mask blends slapstick comedy, action, and special effects to create an entertaining and visually impressive film that has become a cult classic.

Specifications

Release Date
1994-07-29
Rating
PG-13
Genres
Romance (Genre), Comedy (Genre), Crime (Genre), Fantasy (Genre)
Runtime
1 Hour 41 Minutes
Cast
Jim Carrey (Person), Peter Riegert (Person), Peter Greene (Person), Amy Yasbeck (Person), Richard Jeni (Person), Orestes Matacena (Person), Tim Bagley (Person), Nancy Fish (Person), Johnny Williams (Person), Reg E. Cathey (Person), Jim Doughan (Person), Denis Forest (Person), Cameron Diaz (Person), Joseph Alfieri (Person), B.J. Barie (Person), Catherine Berge (Person), Philip Boardman (Person), Krista Buonauro (Person), Debra Casey (Person), Blake Clark (Person), Christopher Darga (Person), Suzanne Dunn (Person), Joely Fisher (Person), Kevin Grevioux (Person), Peter Jazwinski (Person)
Director
Chuck Russell (Person)
Writers
Mike Werb (Person), Michael Fallon (Person), Mark Verheiden (Person)
Producers
Deborah Moore (Person), Mike Richardson (Person)
Sequel(s)
Son of the Mask (Movie, Movies/TV)

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      2025-12-16 18:09