Peter Cullen, Iconic Voice Behind Optimus Prime, Dies at 85
It has been an extraordinarily painful week. After the deaths of beloved figures including Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, fans are now grieving another voice closely tied to their childhoods: Peter Cullen, the performer behind some of animation’s most cherished characters.
Cullen, the Canadian-born voice actor celebrated for portraying Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at the age of 85.
His agent confirmed that Cullen died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. No cause of death has been disclosed. TMZ first reported the devastating news.
In a statement, his family said Peter Cullen passed peacefully with his loving relatives around him and with a place in the hearts of his many friends and countless admirers across the world.
They asked fans to celebrate his extraordinary legacy by helping their communities and guiding others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, while always remembering the principle that a person should be strong enough to remain gentle.
Voice actor Peter Cullen attended the 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on April 29, 2016. The appearance captured a performer whose voice had already become instantly recognizable to millions.
For generations of fans, Cullen’s deep and unmistakable delivery was the voice of Optimus Prime. He first gave life to the heroic Autobot commander in the original animated Transformers series during the 1980s, beginning an association that continued for decades.
Audiences were heartbroken when Optimus Prime died in the 1986 animated film. The response was so powerful that the character was eventually revived. Cullen later returned to the role in Michael Bay’s live-action Transformers movies, starting in 2007.
Yet Optimus Prime represented only one part of Cullen’s remarkable body of work. Generations of young viewers also recognized him as Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
His other performances included Monterey Jack in Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers, KARR in Knight Rider, and Mario in the original animated Donkey Kong series. He even created the frightening vocal effects for the creature in Predator, helping give one of cinema’s most terrifying monsters its unforgettable sound.
The veteran film and television voice actor said he could not provide an exact count of all the voices he had performed over the years, but estimated that the total had to be around 100 different characters when he discussed his career in 2008.
Cullen also appeared at the Optimus Prime hand-and-footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood, California, on September 30, 2014, reflecting the lasting cultural impact of his most famous role.
Behind that legendary performance, however, was a deeply personal inspiration. Cullen once explained that his brother Larry shaped the way he approached Optimus Prime. Larry was a U.S. Marine, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and a man who had experienced combat.
His brother taught him that a genuine hero should be strong enough to be gentle. Cullen said Larry’s controlled delivery, leadership, and tone of voice had impressed him, and that he brought his brother’s outlook on life into his portrayal of Optimus Prime.
Cullen also told The Birmingham News that Optimus Prime occupied a unique place in his heart and remained his favorite character. He explained that the role’s warm reception and powerful effect on so many people made him hold it closer than any other character he had played.
To the people who grew up listening to him, Peter Cullen was far more than a voice actor. He was Optimus Prime. He was Eeyore. He was woven into childhood itself. Now that unmistakable voice has fallen silent.
Rest in peace, Peter Cullen.
