{
  "id": 3868588,
  "title": "Peter Cullen, first voice of Optimus Prime, dies aged 85",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/peter-cullen-first-voice-of-optimus-prime-dies-aged-85",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-28T02:21:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/08/28/peter-cullen-first-voice-of-optimus-prime-dies-aged-85/232963"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Peter Cullen, the iconic Canadian actor behind the voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers, has passed away at the age of 85, according to reports from the Hollywood Reporter. The beloved actor died peacefully at his Los Angeles residence on Wednesday, accompanied by his loved ones. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the news to the Los Angeles Times.\n\nCullen first brought the Autobot leader Optimus Prime to life in the animated series The Transformers, which aired from 1984 to 1987. He revealed that the character's voice was inspired by his older brother Larry, a decorated US Marine who served during the Vietnam War. The death of Optimus Prime in the 1986 animated movie The Transformers: The Movie led to a strong audience response, prompting Cullen and the character to return for the following year's installment.\n\nAfter a 20-year hiatus, Cullen returned to the role for Michael Bay's live-action Transformers in 2007, and continued to voice Optimus Prime in six subsequent films, with his latest performance in Rise of the Beasts released in 2023. Known for his versatile talent, Cullen also voiced Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, as well as the title character in the 1976 King Kong remake and K.A.R.R. in Knight Rider. His distinctive clicking sound for the Predator creature in Schwarzenegger's 1987 film earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination for his role in the first season of Transformers: Prime.",
  "summary": "LOS ANGELES, Aug 28 — Peter Cullen, the Canadian actor whose commanding voice brought Transformers hero Optimus Pr...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Peter Cullen Dies At 85: Transformers' Iconic Optimus Prime Voice Actor Passes Away, Family Confirms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/peter-cullen-dies-at-85-transformers-iconic-optimus-prime-voice-actor",
        "published": "2026-08-27T17:55:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}