Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies at 85

tvAug 28, 20261565,251

Peter Cullen, the Montreal-born voice actor best known as Optimus Prime and Eeyore, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles at age 85, his family said. Cullen began voicing Optimus Prime for the Transformers television series in 1984 and returned to the role in seven Hollywood films from 2007 to 2023 and other spinoffs. He voiced Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh from the late 1980s and in numerous related shows, films and games. Cullen’s other credits include the roars of King Kong in the 1976 remake, providing the monster mouth clicks in Predator in 1987, and voicing KARR in Knight Rider in 1982 and again in 2009. He started his career on Canadian television and radio and was a regular on The Sonny and Cher Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour before focusing on voice work. Cullen said his Optimus Prime voice was inspired by his older brother Larry, a retired US Marine Corps captain, and gave Larry a cut of his Optimus wages until Larry’s death in 2011. He earned a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2011 and received a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards in 2023; his family asked fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities and to remember “be strong enough to be gentle.”

Kei Zama

@keizama.bsky.social

i am definitely lucky person because i could drew the comic that titled “Optimus Prime”. RIP Peter Cullen.

38244d ago

Kei Zama43

Tribute to Peter Cullen. Forever hero

Kei Zama22

adly i couldn't have any chance to seeing peter cullen but while i was drawing Optimus Prime comic series, actually i was imagined Optimus voice as Peter while drawing

Llama God6

And we were very lucky because we got to see your amazing artwork.

Fix Your Heart or Die.6

You did so good on that comic. That last page is one of the most beautiful things in comics.

Jolene3

It wouldn't have been nearly the same without your work!

Judge Anon2

And drew the absolute heck out of it. Gorgeous, gorgeous work.

sgrimp

@sgrimp.bsky.social

I love how Peter Cullen's OP's are always so kind and hopeful towards the next generation. Rest in peace, sir. #transformers #optimusprime

33445d ago

ToonedToons

@toonedtoons.bsky.social

i promise to be strong enough to be gentle, rest in peace Peter Cullen💔

27845d ago

Transformers Wiki

@tfwiki.net

#BehindTheBots remembers PETER CULLEN, whose nuanced portrayal of Optimus Prime won mainstream acclaim and enthralled Transformers fans for over forty years. For this is not the end, but merely a new beginning. Simply put, another transformation. tfwiki.net/wiki/Peter_C...

26545d ago

Kieron Gillen

@kierongillen.bsky.social

That Peter Cullen was Optimus Prime AND Eyeore is some A+ "get a guy who can do both" energy.

26745d ago

Andy Diggle4

I read this as Peter Mullen and for a moment I was very confused.

Corpsie1

And Venger, and Monteray Jack.

shookie 🌙

@shookieshima.bsky.social

"When a spark goes online, there is great joy; when one is extinguished... the universe weeps" Rest in Peace, Peter Cullen ❤️💙 #transformers #optimusprime #petercullen

A tribute to the late Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime. It is inspired by the cover of Skybound's "Transformers" comic issue #25.

18344d ago

marblellous

@marblellous.bsky.social

i think its wonderful to have been the voice of a being who loves the universe so much #transformers #maccadam

optimus prime kneels over the figure of Peter Cullen, stood on a mossy rock. prime's head is bowed, hand extended, the matrix glows from within his chest. illuminating Mr Cullen and his hand on optimus' much larger one.

18344d ago

Dan Larson

@danlarson.bsky.social

Now and forever... Peter "Optimus Prime" Cullen. May we all be so blessed as to be remembered for the good we share with others.

21344d ago

Benjamin D. Hutchins4

"I think... he'd make a neat president." - Spike Witwicky, 1984

Bill Mudron2

I’m so used to you using “forever” when talking about your last/best toy version of a character you own that I was about to ask about the make of this (love the glowing eyes). What a week.

Cedar Valley Gaming2

His voice will always live rent free in my head.

Vosaphene

@vosaphene.bsky.social

looking into the stars for you forevermore, rest well #petercullen #optimusprime

17145d ago

Parum33

@parum.neocities.org

A tribute to Peter Cullen, the first voice of Mario and the one and only Optimus Prime.

Mario standing on top of Optimus Prime’s shoulder.

12144d ago

IGN

@ign.com

Peter Cullen, who died Wednesday at 85, brought to life many of the characters we all grew up with, from the Mogwai, to Eeyore, and of course, Optimus Prime. bit.ly/3ShaMGx

12744d ago

Quoting this

Soren Lorensen3

Toda foto desse ator eu acho que foi o Bryan Cranston que morreu

optiMSTie

@optimstie.bsky.social

Happy #LetterboxdFriday! What's YOUR #LastFourWatched? In Memoriam For Dolly Parton, love for her charm and aura. For Tim Curry, adoration for his boundless charisma. For James Lew, awe for stuntwork he coordinated AND executed. For Peter Cullen, gratitude for the warmth of his voice. #Letterboxd

Cover art for the last four features I watched and logged on Letterboxd.

From left to right: The Transformers: The Movie (1986, rewatch, four stars), Big Trouble in Little China (1986, rewatch, five stars), Clue (1985, rewatch, five stars), Nine to Five (1980, new watch, five stars)

14745d ago

Brigid E. McBride. 🐝🌱🇮🇪🇨🇦🇺🇦8

This week I watched in tribute Shelley Fabares & Dolly Parton. 🕊️ Next week I’ll watch all Tim Curry. 🥹

Carly Gay Stepson5

Clue just became the first movie I've logged 10 times, I don't think any other movie has 5

Specialty Bread!4

Just watched Clue last night. It's so, so good.

MrDissonance3

Clue was necessary for the laughs, given the week we've all had.

mr blokman2

Recently rewatched In The Mouth Of Madness as I was still hurting over the loss of Sam Neill, but this week has been Too Much! Going to see Transformers at my local cinema in September at least. Til all are one!

R2-Danielle21

I was tempted to watch Clue this weekend but it’s always been a fall movie watch for me and since we’re so close I’m going to save it. I didn’t see Transformers in the theater but remember hearing in school about how the Transformers cussed lol.

Quoting this

"Sweet Man" Cam47

It's #LetterboxdFriday. Don't do the body double if you don't want the body trouble imo. #LastFourWatched

Scribble Nabs40

Happy #LetterboxdFriday! Here's my #LastFourWatched I went on an adventure that begged me not to care about any of the characters, immersed myself in post-apocalyptic ridiculous, watched a decent Vincent Price impersonation, and tried to stay above 8,000 feet.

Wabi Sabi For Robots36

#LastFourWatched A mediocre dinosaur thriller elevated by a committed performance by Ann Hathaway, a bildungsroman that tells you it's a bildungsroman and still works beautifully, one of the best musicals of all time, and a hard-hitting documentary about the current administration.

Fizzdragon33

Wow, I'm actually blessed with some really good ones 😊 #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched

Luke-Joint Jezebel30

truly some of the movies of all time (always had a soft spot for Superman IV when i live posted the other day) #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched

yeahwellokay20

One of these things is not like the others #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched

Radical Ross19

Happy #LetterboxdFriday! What's YOUR #LastFourWatched? All bangers from me this week too. Caught Buddy in an AMC Scream Unseen, it's great existentialist, absurdist horror. When I learned it's by the Too Many Cooks directory Iwas not at all surprised. Clue slaps, RIP Tim Curry <3

Emma Cole18

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched: not a great couple weeks for movies, I've been rewatching Hannibal. But a couple of new to me movies that were just okay and one of my fave Lynch films.

MrDissonance18

Happy #LetterboxdFriday! What's YOUR #LastFourWatched? I started the week off by fixing a couple of cinematic blindspots, but then I had to shift to honoring Tim Curry. (I did honor Dolly too, but by listening to her music.) #Letterboxd 📽️

Erich Mees17

Happy #LetterboxdFriday! What's YOUR #LastFourWatched? A memorial week: Remembering Shelley Fabares with one of her Elvis vehicles (I also watched "Girl Happy" right before). Remembering Dolly Parton with two Christmas TV-movies. And remembering Tim Curry by giving myself over to absolute pleasure.

AgentJoeMcJoe 🇺🇸

@joemcjoe11.bsky.social

Another star died. One you probably don't know by name, but you 100% know his voice. Peter Cullen was Optimus Prime.

12645d ago

Earth care. People care. Fair share. Saving the planet together5

And he voiced Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh in the 1980s.

playtime2150.bsky.social2

Rip Optimus prime you will be missed

Hoarder of all things intelligence.1

This was one of my favorite voice actors growing up. Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers The original voice of KARR, in knight Rider He was the voice of the first Predator. Gonna dedicate this weekend to catching up on some old favorites.

Reylinn1

I knew him by name. Peter Cullen was one of the GOATs

gundampixel

@gundampixel.bsky.social

Gunpla & Zaku-kun, roll out! Rest up Peter Cullen, what a legacy you’ve left. 🙏

10245d ago

💀Unknown Rift💀

@unknownriftva.bsky.social

This one personally hit me hard the most, the man that inspired me to start voice acting, to be kind to others, and to be brave for many. My hearts goes out to his family and friends, rest in peace Peter Cullen. #PeterCullen #OptimusPrime

I'm using my name for this, I wasn't ready for him to go.

7845d ago

3 sources

nytimes.comPeter Cullen, Who Voiced Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers,’ Dies at 85 theguardian.comActor Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies aged 85 bbc.comPeter Cullen: Optimus Prime and Eeyore voice actor dies

Big Brother clip: Claire tells house she doesn't like Jessica Graftv Chat BCC hosts Big Brother alumni charity mini‑tournamenttv Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies at 85tv

Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies at 85

Related