Optimus Prime’s voice, Peter Cullen, dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the actor whose deep, commanding voice brought Optimus Prime to life in Transformers, has died at the age of 85.

Peter Cullen, the actor whose deep, commanding voice brought Optimus Prime to life in Transformers, has died at the age of 85. He was also known for voicing the gloomy donkey Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh.

His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the Canadian actor passed away at his home in Los Angeles.

In a statement, Cullen’s family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. They added that he remained close to the hearts of his many friends and countless fans across the world.

The family also asked fans to honour his memory in a meaningful way. They encouraged people to serve their communities and to lead others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty. The statement closed with a phrase they said captured his spirit: “Be strong enough to be gentle.”

Cullen was born in Montreal and first took on the role of Optimus Prime in the original animated Transformers series, which aired from 1984 to 1987. Looking back on the audition years later, he admitted the role initially left him confused.

Speaking to NPR in 2014, he recalled being told only that the character was a hero and that he was a truck, with little else to go on at the time.

Despite the odd brief, Cullen found real inspiration for the character much closer to home: his own brother, who served as a decorated U.S. Marine in Vietnam. In a 2006 interview, Cullen said he noticed a clear change in his brother after he returned from service. He described him as quieter, more mature, and someone he came to see as a superhero.

Cullen explained that watching and listening to his brother shaped the voice he eventually brought to Optimus Prime. He said that until that opportunity came along, he had never had the chance to voice a superhero character. When the moment arrived, he said the voice simply came out naturally, shaped by the man he admired most.

Cullen is survived by his four children. His decades-long portrayal of Optimus Prime made him one of the most recognisable voices in animation, cementing his legacy across generations of Transformers fans.