Peter Cullen, the renowned voice artist known for portraying characters like Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away. Cullen, 85, died at his residence in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his agent Kevin Motley to CBC News.
Originally from Montreal, Cullen began his career in radio, working on CKGM, and later moved to television as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. He lent his voice to iconic roles such as the giant ape in the 1976 version of “King Kong” and the monstrous sounds in “Predator” in 1987.
Fans might recognize Cullen as the voice of Eeyore in the 1988-91 series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” a role he continued in various productions including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.” However, his most significant role was voicing Optimus Prime, the talking truck transformer, starting in the early 1980s.
In 1986, there was a massive outcry from fans after Optimus Prime’s death in a battle with Megatron in “The Transformers: The Movie.” The character was resurrected in 1987 in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.” Despite a hiatus from the character, Cullen was brought back by director Michael Bay in 2007 for the film “Transformers,” featuring stars like Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.
During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared how his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired the voice of Optimus Prime. Larry’s words about real heroism being about strength and gentleness resonated with Cullen as he brought the character to life.
In a statement announcing Cullen’s passing, his family highlighted his enduring impact on friends and fans worldwide. They encouraged everyone to honor his legacy by embodying qualities like compassion, integrity, and loyalty, echoing Larry’s belief that true strength lies in being gentle.