The Newshound

Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore across four decades, dies aged 85

Peter Cullen, whose voice spanned both the Transformers and Winnie the Pooh franchises across generations of fans worldwide, has died at 85.
Peter Cullen, whose voice spanned both the Transformers and Winnie the Pooh franchises across generations of fans worldwide, has died at 85.
Eeyore, the beloved donkey Peter Cullen voiced in Winnie the Pooh, was among the roles that made him one of children's entertainment's most cherished voices.
Eeyore, the beloved donkey Peter Cullen voiced in Winnie the Pooh, was among the roles that made him one of children's entertainment's most cherished voices.

Peter Cullen based his iconic portrayal of Optimus Prime on his older brother Larry, a US Marine veteran of Vietnam, telling the AP: 'He was my hero, and he certainly was the mainstay behind the character.' The Montreal-born voice actor died peacefully at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday, surrounded by family, after a career stretching from 1960s Canadian TV and radio to a multibillion-dollar Hollywood franchise.

Cullen voiced Optimus Prime across seven live-action Transformers films from 2007 to 2023, as well as the original 1984 cartoon.

He also created the eerie clicking sounds for the Predator monster in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, and voiced KARR in Knight Rider.

His family's statement urges fans to honour him by 'leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty' and to 'be strong enough to be gentle.'

MoreAPPeter Cullen, prolific voice actor who gave Optimus Prime his authoritative baritone, has diedLBCOptimus Prime and Eeyore voice actor Peter Cullen dies aged 85
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