Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime, dies at 85
MANILA, Philippines — Canadian actor Peter Cullen, best known for voicing characters like Optimus Prime from "Transformers" and Eeyore from "Winnie the Pooh," has passed away. He was 85 years old.
Cullen's death last Wednesday, August 26, was confirmed by his agent Kevin Motley and his family who surrounded him by the time of the actor's passing.
"[He] held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide," said his family in a statement, asking fans "honor his remarkable legacy by serving communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.'"
The actor was the voice of Autobots leader Optimus Prime as early as the '80s animated show, a role he continued into the live-action films right up to his final feature, 2023's "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."
Prior to that Cullen worked on a string of projects due to his deep voice including "Spider-Man," "Scooby-Doo," and "Knight Rider" shows.
But after the turn of the millenium, he mostly voiced Optimus Prime and Eeyore, the gloomy donkey friend of Winnie the Pooh — even in video games.
Cullen had a recurring role in adult superhero series "Invincible" and on the big screen voiced the titular characters in 1976's "King Kong" and 1987's "Predator."
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