Peter Cullen, Iconic Voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, Dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the celebrated voice actor whose authoritative baritone defined Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise and brought a gentle melancholy to Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed his passing on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles.

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His family asks that you honour his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.'

The family of the prolific actor, who enlivened countless TV series, specials, and movies, issued a statement asking that his "remarkable legacy" be honored by serving communities with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and by remembering to "be strong enough to be gentle."

Cullen's career began as an announcer on the late-1960s comedy series "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." He lent his voice to characters in "The Smurfs" and various "G.I. Joe" iterations. However, it was his portrayal of Optimus Prime in the 1984 syndicated series "Transformers" that left an indelible mark on pop culture. The character's enduring popularity spawned a toy line, spin-off series, comics, and eventually a multibillion-dollar live-action film franchise.

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You’re always auditioning for something in animation that’s a little off of the norm.

Before his audition for Optimus Prime, Cullen knew he would be reading for the part of a truck. He later revealed that his inspiration for the heroic Autobot leader came from his older brother, a U.S. Marine who served in the Vietnam War. "He was my hero, and he certainly was the mainstay behind the character," Cullen said in a 2019 interview. "I just did an impression of Larry, and he’s still alive in my mind today because every time I do Prime, there’s my brother Larry."

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He was my hero, and he certainly was the mainstay behind the character. I just did an impression of Larry, and he’s still alive in my mind today because every time I do Prime, there’s my brother Larry.

Cullen's iconic voice as Optimus Prime was featured in multiple Transformers films, including "Revenge of the Fallen," "Dark of the Moon," "Age of Extinction," "The Last Knight," "Bumblebee," and "Rise of the Beasts." His memorable lines, such as "Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing," became widely quoted. Beyond Transformers, Cullen voiced Eeyore across various Winnie-the-Pooh projects, portrayed the villainous KARR in the 1980s series "Knight Rider," and lent his voice to King Kong in the 1976 remake.

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I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars: We are here. We are waiting.