Optimus Prime and Eeyore voice actor Peter Cullen dies

Peter Cullen, the renowned actor behind iconic voices such as Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, has passed away at the age of 85. Born in Canada, Cullen began his career on Canadian television and radio before transitioning to a successful voice acting career. His portrayal of Optimus Prime originated from a suggestion by his older brother, a decorated US Marine, who advised Cullen to embody the character as a true hero, rather than a Hollywood hero.

Cullen received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his performance as Optimus Prime in 2011 and was later honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Children's & Family Emmy Awards in 2023. Other notable roles included KARR from Knight Rider, The Predator from Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1987 film, and King Kong in 1976. Cullen's family emphasizes the importance of serving one's community with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, encouraging others to be strong enough to be gentle in memory of his remarkable legacy.