Optimus Prime and Eeyore voice actor Peter Cullen dies
Actor Peter Cullen, who voiced popular characters including Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at the age of 85.
Career Highlights
Cullen began his most famous role as the heroic deep-voiced Optimus Prime in the Transformers TV series in 1984, returning for seven Hollywood films from 2007 to 2023 and other spin-offs. He also voiced depressive donkey Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and numerous related shows, films, and games.
His other memorable voice parts included:
- KARR, the evil counterpart to KITT in Knight Rider
- The clicking vocalisations of The Predator in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 film
- King Kong’s roars in the 1976 film
Legacy and Awards
Cullen died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. His family requested that fans honour his legacy by serving their communities with compassion, integrity, and loyalty.
His performance as Optimus Prime earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding performer in an animated programme in 2011 and a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023.
