Peter Cullen, the Canadian actor renowned for voicing Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise and Eeyore in Disney's Winnie the Pooh series, has died aged 85. He passed away on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement.
A Legendary Voice Acting Career
Cullen's most iconic role began in 1984 when he voiced Optimus Prime, the noble leader of the Autobots, in the original Transformers TV series. He reprised the role in seven Hollywood Transformers films from 2007 to 2023, as well as various spin-offs. His portrayal of the melancholic donkey Eeyore spanned The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh TV series in the late 1980s and numerous related shows, films, and video games.
Beyond these signature roles, Cullen's voice work included the roars of King Kong in the 1976 remake, and KARR (Knight Automated Roving Robot), the evil counterpart to KITT, in the Knight Rider series in 1982 and 2009. He is also credited with creating the eerie clicking sounds made by the monster in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Predator.
Inspiration and Legacy
Cullen's family confirmed his death, stating: “Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honour his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember, ‘be strong enough to be gentle’.”
The Montreal-born actor began his career on Canadian TV and radio, later becoming a regular on shows like The Sonny & Cher Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour before focusing on voice acting. Cullen revealed that Optimus Prime's resonant voice was inspired by his older brother Larry, a retired US Marine Corps captain who served in the Vietnam War. Larry advised him to play the character as “a real hero, don’t be a Hollywood hero.” Cullen recalled: “He said, ‘Don’t go yelling and screaming. He’s strong enough to be gentle’. And that resonated with me, and I could hear his voice all the way to the audition. When he drops down, when he gets serious, is where I found Optimus Prime.”
Recognition and Impact
Cullen shared a portion of his Transformers earnings with Larry until his brother's death in 2011. In a 2014 NPR interview, Cullen admitted his initial confusion about the role: “I auditioned like everybody else. I was told it was a hero, and I was told it was a truck.” His work earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding performer in an animated programme in 2011 and a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023.
When director Michael Bay rebooted Transformers for the 2007 film starring Shia LaBeouf, Cullen told IGN: “I describe it as kind of slipping into an old pair of very comfortable shoes that you haven’t worn for a while. I just slipped right into them, and they felt as good as the last time I put them on.” His legacy endures through his iconic characters and the generations of fans who grew up with his voice.
