By Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor best known as the voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at the age of 85. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cullen’s family confirmed that he passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Cullen had a career that spanned more than six decades. He became one of the most recognizable voices in animation, with his work extending far beyond Transformers and Winnie the Pooh. He also voiced King Kong in the 1976 King Kong, played K.A.R.R. on Knight Rider, and created the distinctive clicking and growling sounds of the Predator in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger action classic. But for generations of fans, Cullen’s defining performance was Optimus Prime, the honorable leader of the Autobots.
Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the original The Transformers animated series, which ran from 1984 to 1987. When he auditioned for the role, Cullen said he was initially given surprisingly little information about the character.
“I was told it was a hero, and I was told it was a truck.”
That was enough for Cullen to create one of the most enduring voices in animation history. His deep, authoritative performance helped establish Optimus Prime as a character with a sense of wisdom, compassion, and leadership. Cullen’s performance was particularly memorable in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), which featured the shocking death of Optimus Prime during his battle with Megatron.
Cullen based Optimus Prime on his brother
One of the most personal aspects of Cullen’s creation of Optimus Prime was the inspiration he drew from his older brother, Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam. Cullen said that when his brother returned home, he had become a heroic figure in his eyes. He watched him, listened to him, and channeled his spirit when voicing Optimus Prime.
Cullen also voiced the Autobot weapons specialist Ironhide, basing that character’s voice on actor Chill Wills.
The reaction from fans was so strong that Optimus was brought back, with Cullen returning to voice the character. When the Transformers franchise moved to live-action with Michael Bay’s Transformers in 2007, Cullen returned as Optimus Prime. He subsequently voiced Optimus in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Bumblebee (2018) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).
Cullen also continued voicing Optimus in numerous animated productions and video games throughout his career. His performance as Optimus Prime in Transformers: Prime earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination.
Peter Cullen was also the voice of Eeyore
For other fans, Cullen’s voice was inseparable from a very different character: Eeyore. Cullen began voicing the gloomy but lovable donkey in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which ran from 1988 to 1991. He continued playing Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh movies, television programs and videos, including Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year. The role demonstrated Cullen’s range. Where his Optimus Prime performance was commanding and heroic, his Eeyore was soft-spoken and melancholy.
Peter Cullen created the Predator’s iconic voice
Cullen’s contributions to genre entertainment went beyond recognizable characters. For Predator, the 1987 sci-fi action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cullen was brought in to help create the sound of the mysterious alien hunter. Rather than providing a conventional voice, Cullen developed the Predator’s unsettling vocalizations, including the creature’s clicking and crackling sounds. Cullen said that he drew inspiration from the unusual appearance of the creature, comparing its face to an upside-down horseshoe crab.
A theater-trained actor before becoming a legendary voice
Cullen’s career began long before Optimus Prime. Born Peter Claver Cullen on July 28, 1941, he was one of four children. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada as part of its first graduating class in 1963 and studied acting under operatic coach Bernard Diamant.He performed Shakespeare in Stratford, Ontario, worked in Toronto theater and became an announcer for Montreal radio station CKGM.
Cullen eventually moved to Hollywood, where he worked on programs like The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, and The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Comedy Show.
Peter Cullen’s legacy
Cullen’s career included dozens of animation, television, film, and video game credits. Among his other roles were Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Coran and King Alfor in Voltron, Ramrod in Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, and Commander James Hawkins in Vehicle Voltron. He also became involved with NASA and the Optimus Prime Spinoff Award, which is presented to young people pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Cullen is survived by his children, Angus, Claire, Pilar and Clay.
For millions of Transformers fans, Peter Cullen’s voice was Optimus Prime, defining the character for more than four decades, from the original animated series to the modern blockbuster films. His voice will remain one of the most recognizable and beloved sounds in the history of animation and genre entertainment. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.
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