Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime in “Transformers” and Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh”, Dies at 85
Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime in “Transformers” and Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh”, Dies at 85
Brenton BlanchetThu, August 27, 2026 at 3:25 PM UTC
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Peter Cullen; Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers’Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty; Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett -
Peter Cullen has died at age 85
The voice actor was known for his roles as Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh franchise
“His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle,’” his family said
Peter Cullen, the voice actor known for his work in the Transformers and Winnie the Pooh franchises, has died. He was 85.
Cullen died on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at his home in Los Angeles, a rep for the actor confirmed to PEOPLE. A cause of death was not shared.
“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 said in a statement. “His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle.’”
Peter Cullen at the 2023 premiere of ‘Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts’Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
Cullen built a decades-long career in entertainment with film, television and video game voice-acting work. Born in Montreal, his early work included voicing King Kong in the King Kong 1976 film and serving as an announcer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
His work in the Transformers universe as Optimus Prime began in 1984 with the animated series The Transformers, which ran until 1987. Alongside the beloved Autobot, Cullen also voiced Ironhide, Streetwise, Wingspan, Slugslinger and Nightstick on the cartoon based on Hasbro’s successful toys.
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Decades later, and after voicing the big-wheeling bot in The Transformers: The Movie in 1986, Cullen again returned to the role for Michael Bay’s live-action Transformer’s film in 2007. He went on to star as Prime in the many video games, animated projects and sequel films to follow, making his most recent as the character in 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Peter Cullen; EeyoreCredit: Emma McIntyre/Getty; Disney+
“It punches me right in the heart when I encounter those moments, and there are many,” he told IGN in 2012 of fan interactions. “I can’t begin to tell you the effect that it’s had on me because it’s huge, and for anybody to go through life and have an impact on somebody else’s life, it gives you that sense that you’ve made a difference.”
He added, “To be able to communicate that back in an individual is a golden moment, and it touches me to the very core. I’m really proud to be able to have the opportunity to feel that, and it’s hard to describe.”
Among his other voice work — including voicing the title character in Predator, serving as the first voice for KARR in Knight Rider and appearing in DuckTales and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers — Cullen took on the voice of Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, from 1988 to 1991.
After that, he’d handle the character in several other Pooh properties, including The Book of Pooh, Piglet’s Big Movie, The Tigger Movie and beyond.
Cullen is survived by children Angus, Claire, Pilar and Clay, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
