Veteran voice actor Peter Cullen, best known for providing the voices of Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh franchise, has died at the age of 85.
Cullen died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family, according to a statement.
“Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide.
“His family asks that you honour his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle’.”
The Canadian-born actor first voiced Optimus Prime in the original Transformers animated television series in 1984.
He later reprised the iconic role in seven Hollywood films released between 2007 and 2023, as well as several spin-offs.
Cullen also became widely recognised as the voice of Eeyore, the gloomy donkey in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, beginning in the late 1980s. He continued to portray the character across several related television productions, films and video games.
Beyond those two beloved characters, Cullen lent his voice to a wide range of memorable roles.
They included KARR, the villainous counterpart to KITT in Knight Rider, as well as the clicking vocal sounds of the Predator in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 film. He also provided the roars for King Kong in the 1976 movie.
Cullen began his career in Canadian television and radio before appearing regularly on programmes such as The Sonny & Cher Show. He eventually focused primarily on voice acting and became one of the industry’s most recognisable performers.
Brother inspired Optimus Prime’s voice
Cullen previously revealed that his portrayal of Optimus Prime was influenced by his older brother, a decorated US Marine and Vietnam War veteran.
His brother advised him to portray the character as “a real hero, don’t be a Hollywood hero”.
“He said, ‘Don’t go yelling and screaming. He’s strong enough to be gentle.’
“And that resonated with me, and I could hear his voice all the way to the audition. When he drops down, when he gets serious, is where I found Optimus Prime.”
Cullen continued to share part of the money he earned from playing Optimus Prime with his brother until his brother’s death.
His performance as Optimus Prime earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding performer in an animated programme in 2011.
He was also honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023.
Cullen’s extensive voice-acting credits included Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers and roles in animated productions such as Spider-Man, Donkey Kong, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Dungeons & Dragons, My Little Pony, Duck Tales and Gummi Bears.
He leaves behind a lasting legacy through some of animation and film’s most recognisable characters.
