LOS ANGELES — Peter Cullen died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 85.

Born on July 28, 1941, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Cullen began his career on Canadian TV and radio. He was part of the first graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963, where he studied acting under Bernard Diamant and performed in Shakespearean roles. His early work included appearances as a regular on The Sonny & Cher Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Cullen voiced Optimus Prime in the Transformers TV series starting in 1984. He also provided the voice for the character in the 1986 film Transformers: The Movie. "I auditioned like everybody else. I was told it was a hero, and I was told it was a truck," Cullen said.

The performance drew inspiration from his older brother Larry, a retired US Marine Corps captain who served in the Vietnam War. "He said, ‘Don’t go yelling and screaming. He’s strong enough to be gentle.’ And that resonated with me, and I could hear his voice all the way to the audition. When he drops down, when he gets serious, is where I found Optimus Prime," he said.

Cullen gave his brother Larry a portion of his wages for playing Optimus Prime until Larry’s death in 2011. Returning to the role in later projects felt familiar to the actor. "I describe it as kind of slipping into an old pair of very comfortable shoes that you haven’t worn for a while. I just slipped right into them, and they felt as good as the last time I put them on," he said. He voiced Optimus Prime in seven Hollywood Transformers films from 2007 to 2023.

Beyond the Autobots leader, Cullen displayed versatility across animation and live-action sound design. He created the clicking sounds for the monster in the 1987 film Predator and provided the roars for King Kong in the 1976 remake. In television, he voiced KARR in the Knight Rider series in 1982 and 2009. He also voiced the Autobots Streetwise, Wingspan, Slugslinger, and Nightstick in addition to Optimus Prime.

Cullen took over the role of Eeyore in various Winnie-the-Pooh outings from 1988 to 2017, including The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh TV series and other related shows, films, and games. More recently, he voiced the character Thaedus in the animated series Invincible, showcasing his versatility beyond Transformers and Winnie the Pooh. He also voiced Monterey Jack in the 2022 film Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers.

"Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honour his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember, ‘be strong enough to be gentle’," Cullen's family said.

Why It Matters

Cullen’s 39-year tenure as the voice of Optimus Prime established a consistent auditory identity for the Transformers franchise across generations. His approach, grounded in the advice of his brother Larry, defined the character’s gentle strength and influenced how the leader was portrayed in media from the 1984 TV series through the 2023 film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

The actor’s career extended well beyond Transformers, demonstrating range in roles such as Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh productions from 1988 to 2017 and Thaedus in Invincible. His recognition with a lifetime achievement award at the 2023 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards showed his impact on animated entertainment. The family’s request for community service and compassion frames his legacy in terms of civic engagement rather than solely professional achievement.

Timeline

Also in 2011, Cullen received a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding performer in an animated programme in 2011. In 2022, Cullen voiced Monterey Jack in the 2022 film Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers. In 2023, Cullen received a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023.

What's New

It also establishes that Cullen’s portrayal of Optimus Prime spanned 39 years, from the 1984 TV series to his final role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), making him the longest-serving voice actor for the character. Records show Cullen was born on July 28, 1941, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Further details indicate Cullen voiced Optimus Prime in the 1986 film Transformers: The Movie. He also voiced the character Thaedus in the animated series Invincible, showcasing his versatility beyond Transformers and Winnie the Pooh. Cullen is survived by his four children: Angus, Claire, Pilar, and Clay.

Kevin Motley, Cullen's agent, confirmed his death. Additionally, Cullen voiced the Autobots Streetwise, Wingspan, Slugslinger, and Nightstick in addition to Optimus Prime.