Renowned Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen, known for his iconic roles as Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed Cullen’s death at his residence in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Originally from Montreal, Cullen began his career in radio on CKGM before transitioning to television as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. He lent his voice to various characters, including the giant ape in the 1976 remake of “King Kong” and the monster in the 1987 film “Predator.”
Fans of the 1988-91 series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” may recognize Cullen as the voice of Eeyore, a role he reprised in the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year” and subsequent shows and videos. However, his most prominent portrayal was that of Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots in the “Transformers” franchise, which he began in the early 1980s.
Cullen’s performance as Optimus Prime resonated with audiences to such an extent that his character’s demise in “The Transformers: The Movie” in 1986 sparked significant backlash. The character was later resurrected in 1987 in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.” Director Michael Bay brought Cullen back to reprise his role in the 2007 film “Transformers,” alongside stars such as Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.
During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared that his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine veteran, inspired the voice of Optimus Prime by emphasizing the importance of strength in gentleness. Cullen’s family acknowledged this sentiment in their statement announcing his passing, urging fans to honor his legacy by embodying traits of compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and to always remember to “Be strong enough to be gentle.”