Peter Cullen, Legendary Voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, Dies at 85
Peter Cullen, the iconic Canadian voice actor best known for bringing Optimus Prime to life in the Transformers franchise and voicing Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh productions, has died at the age of 85.
Cullen died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent Kevin Motley. His family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
In a statement, his family asked fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities and showing compassion, integrity and loyalty. They also remembered his words: “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
Born in Montreal on July 28, 1941, Cullen developed his performance skills through theater before establishing a long and successful career in television, animation and film. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963 as part of its first graduating class and later performed Shakespeare in Stratford, Ontario.
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Cullen began his entertainment career as a live-action performer and announcer, working on programs including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
His career changed dramatically in 1984 when he was cast as Optimus Prime in the original animated Transformers television series. His deep, commanding voice became inseparable from the heroic Autobot leader and helped make the character one of the most recognizable figures in popular culture.
Cullen later returned as Optimus Prime for Michael Bay’s 2007 live-action Transformers film. He reprised the role in several sequels, including Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon, Age of Extinction, The Last Knight, Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts.
Cullen also became beloved for his portrayal of Eeyore, the gloomy but endearing donkey from Winnie the Pooh. He first voiced the character in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and continued playing Eeyore across films, television programs and other projects.
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Beyond Transformers and Winnie the Pooh, Cullen contributed to a wide range of memorable productions. He voiced King Kong in the 1976 film and K.A.R.R. in Knight Rider. He also created the distinctive clicking and crackling vocal effects of the Predator creature in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Predator.
His animation credits included characters in Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers, Voltron, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, Saturday Supercade and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Cullen said he based his interpretation of Optimus Prime partly on his older brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam. He described his brother as a heroic figure whose strength and character influenced the voice he ultimately gave to Optimus.
His performance in the animated series Transformers: Prime earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2011.
Throughout his career, Cullen remained closely associated with the Transformers legacy and was involved with the Optimus Prime Spinoff Award, which recognizes young people pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Cullen is survived by his children, Angus, Claire, Pilar and Clay.
Reflecting on his career and the enduring popularity of Transformers, Cullen once said he was grateful to have been part of something that became a lasting part of popular culture.
Peter Cullen leaves behind a remarkable legacy as the unmistakable voice of Optimus Prime and one of animation’s most beloved performers.