Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor best known for bringing Optimus Prime and Eeyore to life, has died at the age of 85.
His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed that Cullen died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. His family said he died peacefully surrounded by those closest to him.
Cullen leaves behind a decades-long career that made his voice instantly recognisable to generations of film and television audiences.
Optimus Prime defined his career
Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in The Transformers, the animated series that ran from 1984 to 1987.
His deep, authoritative delivery became closely associated with the Autobots’ leader and helped make the character one of the franchise’s most recognisable figures.
Cullen later returned to the role when Transformers moved to the big screen in 2007.
He went on to voice Optimus Prime in several major films, including Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon, Age of Extinction, The Last Knight, Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts.
Eeyore became another signature role
Cullen was also widely known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise.
He first took on the role in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1988 and continued voicing the character across numerous productions.
His work extended far beyond the two characters that defined much of his career.
Cullen voiced King Kong in the 1976 remake and played K.A.R.R. in Knight Rider.
He also created the distinctive clicking sounds used by the alien creature in the 1987 film Predator.
Family remembers Cullen’s values
Cullen’s family remembered him not only for his career, but for the values he represented.
They asked fans to honour his legacy through compassion, integrity and loyalty.
For Transformers fans in particular, Cullen’s unmistakable performance as Optimus Prime remains central to a legacy that stretched across generations.