Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies at 85

Prolific voice actor Peter Cullen, known for his iconic portrayal of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at the age of 85. Cullen passed away on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent. His career spanned decades, including work on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Smurfs, and Knight Rider, but he is most celebrated for bringing the heroic Autobot leader to life. Cullen stated that his portrayal of Optimus Prime was inspired by his older brother, a US Marine. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Children's & Family Emmy Awards in 2023.

Peter Cullen, the voice actor known for his iconic portrayals of Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Disney's Winnie the Pooh franchise, has died at the age of 85. He passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Cullen began his career in Canadian television and radio before achieving widespread recognition for voicing Optimus Prime in the 1984 Transformers TV series and subsequently in seven films. His other notable roles included KARR in Knight Rider and the monster in Predator, for which he also created sound effects. Cullen's family stated he was surrounded by loved ones and requested that his legacy be honored through compassion and integrity.

Peter Cullen, the iconic voice actor behind Optimus Prime in the Transformers TV series and films, has passed away. Cullen's distinctive voice for the heroic Autobot leader was inspired by his older brother, a US Marine veteran, who advised him to portray Optimus as a "real hero" who was "strong enough to be gentle." This advice profoundly shaped Cullen's portrayal, earning him a Daytime Emmy nomination and a lifetime achievement award at the Children's & Family Emmy Awards. Before his notable work as Optimus Prime, Cullen began his career in Canadian television and radio, later appearing on shows like The Sonny & Cher Show before focusing on voice acting. His extensive voice acting career also included roles such as Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers and characters in numerous other popular animated series.