Grief in the world of culture: The voice that became a legendary character has passed away at the age of 85
Canadian actor and voice actor Peter Cullen, who for decades gave his voice to Optimus Prime from "Transformers" and Eeyore from "Winnie the Pooh", died at the age of 85. The cause of death was not released.
The world of culture is saying goodbye to one of the most recognizable voice actors in the history of animation. Peter Cullen, the Canadian actor who made the voice of Optimus Prime one of the most recognizable in the world, died on Wednesday, August 26, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 85. His agent confirmed his death, and his family stated that Cullen died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. The cause of death was not released.
Cullen was born on July 28, 1941, in Montreal, Canada, and was a member of the first graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada, which he finished in 1963. He began his professional career in the 60s as an actor and announcer, and later moved to Hollywood, where he participated in the comedy shows of the Smothers Brothers and Sonny and Cher.
His career took a significant turn in 1984, when he was chosen to voice Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots in the "Transformers" animated series. His deep and authoritative voice became an inseparable part of the character, and he continued to play it for decades in series, films, and video games. Cullen returned to the role in the 1986 animated film "The Transformers: The Movie", and later returned to it in Michael Bay's live-action films, starting with "Transformers" in 2007. He continued to voice Optimus in the sequels as well, including "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", "Transformers: Dark of the Moon", "Transformers: Age of Extinction", "Transformers: The Last Knight", "Bumblebee", and "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts".
Cullen based the character of Optimus Prime, according to him, on his older brother Larry, who was a decorated officer in the US Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam War. In 2010, Cullen was one of the first four voice actors to be inducted into the Transformers Hall of Fame.
However, Cullen's career was much broader. He was also the recognizable voice of Eeyore, the pessimistic donkey from "Winnie the Pooh", a role he began playing in the late 80s. In addition, he voiced Monterey Jack in "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers" and K.A.R.R., the evil version of K.I.T.T. in the series "Knight Rider". One of his unusual roles came in the 1987 film "Predator", where he created the sounds and sound effects associated with the alien creature. During his career, Cullen also participated in productions such as "Voltron", "G.I. Joe", "Spider-Man", "Gremlins", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", and others. He was even among the first voice actors for Mario in the "Donkey Kong" animated series.
In 2023, Cullen received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, as part of the Children's & Family Emmy Awards ceremony. In a statement released by the family, they asked fans to honor his legacy through service to the community and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty. The message ended with the sentence associated with the way Cullen described the inspiration he received from his brother for creating the voice of Optimus Prime:
"Be strong enough to be gentle."
