Voice of Optimus Prime Peter Cullen Dies at 85
Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor behind Optimus Prime, has died at age 85. His family confirmed he passed away at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and covered by JoBlo.
Cullen first voiced the Autobot leader in the 1984 'Transformers' cartoon, famously taking advice from his older brother Larry to make the hero 'strong enough to be gentle,' per /Film. He reprised the role for decades, including in all the live-action Michael Bay films and 2023's 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.' His performance was so beloved that fan outrage forced Hasbro to resurrect Optimus Prime after his on-screen death in 1986's 'The Transformers: The Movie.'
Beyond the Transformers universe, Cullen's career spanned over six decades. He was the longtime voice of Eeyore in Disney's 'Winnie the Pooh' franchise. He also created the iconic clicking and growling vocalizations for the creature in the 1987 film 'Predator' and voiced the villainous car K.A.R.R. in the original 'Knight Rider' series.
Colleagues are paying tribute. According to Polygon, fellow 'Transformers' voice actors are remembering Cullen as a 'prodigious talent.' His final credited performance was as the character Thaedus on the animated series 'Invincible.'
Cullen is survived by his four children.
