Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor celebrated for his roles as Optimus Prime in the Transformers series and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has passed away at the age of 85. Cullen died peacefully at his residence in Los Angeles on Wednesday, with his family by his side, as announced in a family statement.
Originating from Montreal, Cullen carved out his early career in Canadian television and radio, eventually becoming one of the most prominent figures in voice acting. His breakthrough came in 1984 when he first lent his voice to Optimus Prime in the Transformers animated series. Cullen would continue to define the character, reprising the role in seven major Hollywood films from 2007 to 2023, as well as in various spin-offs.
Cullen also left an indelible mark as the voice of Eeyore, the wistful donkey in Winnie the Pooh. He brought the character to life in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and continued to do so in numerous films, television shows, and video games that followed.
His diverse talents extended to other iconic roles, such as KARR, the villainous counterpart to KITT in the television series Knight Rider. Additionally, Cullen crafted the eerie clicking sounds of the creature in the 1987 film Predator and provided the voice for King Kong in the 1976 remake.
Optimus Prime’s persona was deeply influenced by Cullen’s older brother, Larry, a former US Marine Corps captain. Larry’s guidance inspired Cullen to portray Optimus as a hero defined by strength and integrity rather than aggression. This portrayal earned Cullen a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2011, and he was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023. With a career that spanned decades, Cullen’s contributions to the world of animation and science fiction have cemented his legacy in popular culture.