Peter Cullen, The Voice Behind Optimus Prime, Dies At 85
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Peter Cullen, the voice actor best known for playing Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" franchise and Eeyore in "Winnie the Pooh," died on August 26, 2026. He was 85 years old. In a statement, Cullen's family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Peter Claver Cullen was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1941. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963 and began his career as an announcer on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." From 1971 to 1974, he was a regular on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour." Over the next several decades, Cullen built a prolific career that included more than 200 acting credits.
Cullen gradually moved into voice work, lending his voice to commercials, movie trailers, and animated television shows. In 1984, he was asked to audition for a new animated series called "The Transformers." Cullen knew it was for a hero robot who could transform into a truck. He told his older brother Larry, a Marine veteran, about the role.
Larry advised Cullen not to make the character sound like a typical Hollywood hero who yells and acts tough. Instead, he told Cullen to "be strong enough to be gentle." Cullen followed his brother’s advice, and the voice of Optimus Prime was born.
Cullen went on to voice Optimus Prime for decades, appearing in animated series, movies, and video games. His most recent performance as the character was in "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" in 2023.
Cullen also voiced Eeyore, the gloomy, but lovable donkey from "Winnie the Pooh." He first played the character in the animated TV series "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" in 1988. He continued to voice Eeyore in several other "Winnie the Pooh" projects over the years. Cullen said one of his favorite parts of the role was seeing young fans light up when they heard him speak in Eeyore's voice.
His other credits included voicing King Kong in the 1976 film "King Kong" and K.A.R.R. on "Knight Rider." He also created the creature's vocal sounds in "Predator" and voiced Monterey Jack on "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers."
For generations of fans, Cullen will remain inseparable from the beloved characters he voiced throughout his career. His family hopes his fans will remember to "be strong enough to be gentle," just like Optimus Prime.
Resources: Wikipedia.org, Yahoo.com, Gizmondo.com
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58 Comments
- wazuhivuzuby11 daysR.I.P :( Legends Never Die
hojikyhosaha11 daysbro soos sad I have to write abt this- hojikyhosaha11 daysBro I watched every transformers movie including bumblebee but I didn't watch the carttoons. Its sooooo sad. I will never look at Optimus prime the same again
- fybucenaratu11 daysI know they will get a new voice actor, but I'll never look a transformers the same way again.(rip)
mo49erjj11 daysRip ]:
hi2428123411 daysNo, I feel so bad for his family. :(
jacesigma676912 daysRIP the goat
dogs-jesus5012 daysI'm so sad.......My little cousin has autism and this was one of his favorite movies. First Dolly, then Jackie, then Tim Curry, now this. 2026 is a pretty sad year... RIP. Sending Peter Cullen, Dolly Parton, and Tim Curry's families love and prayers. T-T- kobugasajihy10 daysi agree. I didn't know dolly Parton that well but i feel bad for her family. so just keep them in your prayers.
- revamiryjedi12 daysAnd let's not forget about Catherine O'Hara, the actress of Kate McCallister in "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York", Justice Strauss in the 2004 film adaptation of "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and Georgina Orwell in the 2017 Netflix adaptation of the same name, Moira Rose in "Schitt's Creek", and the voice actress of both Sally and Shock in "The Nightmare Before Christmas". She passed away all the way back at the end of January 2026. MAN, it was so heartbreaking to hear that news.
- kacuwonylino12 daysBro i feel bad
- hylunetugizi12 daysthe goat
