Peter Cullen, iconic voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers, dies at 85

Veteran voice actor Peter Cullen, celebrated for playing Optimus Prime in Transformers film series, died at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday. His family remembered a long career and asked fans to honour his compassion, integrity and loyalty.

In Short

• Peter Cullen, best known for playing Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh, died aged 85
• The late voice actor's family said he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones
• Cullen also created the unusual clicking sounds of creature in Predator (1987)

Veteran voice actor Peter Cullen, best known for playing Optimus Prime in Transformers film series and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died aged 85. His last theatrical release was Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).

Cullen died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, according to his agent Kevin Motley, who confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

In a statement, his family remembered the actor and his decades-long career, saying he "passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide". They also urged people to remember Cullen for the values he stood for, saying, "That you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity and loyalty and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle',".

Born in Montreal, Cullen spent decades working across television, films and video games. He was most closely associated with Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, and became the character's voice for generations of Transformers fans. He continued to play the role in films including Transformers: The Last Knight, Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Cullen also became known for voicing Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which aired from 1988 to 1991. He later reprised the role in Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year and several other Winnie the Pooh projects. His work extended to other popular films and television shows as well. He played King Kong in the 1976 film and voiced K.A.R.R., the dangerous counterpart to K.I.T.T., in Knight Rider, returning to the role when the series was revived in 2009.

Among his lesser-known contributions was his work on Predator, where he created the unusual clicking sounds made by the creature in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Before establishing himself as a voice actor, Cullen also appeared as a live-action performer and worked as an announcer, building a career that stretched across several parts of the entertainment industry.

Cullen's death marks the end of a long career in voice acting and screen work, with his performances as Optimus Prime and Eeyore standing among his most recognised roles, alongside his work in Knight Rider, Predator and other film and television projects.

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