Renowned 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 in his Los Angeles residence. Cullen, originally from Montreal, started his career in radio and later transitioned to television, notably as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” from 1967 to 1969.
In addition to voicing King Kong in the 1976 remake and contributing to the sounds of the monster in “Predator” in 1987, Cullen gained recognition among millennials for his portrayal of Eeyore in “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” from 1988 to 1991. He continued to breathe life into the character in various adaptations, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.”
However, Cullen’s most significant role was that of Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots in the “Transformers” franchise, which he first voiced in the early 1980s. Fans were deeply moved by Optimus Prime’s demise in “The Transformers: The Movie” in 1986, leading to his revival in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime” the following year.
Despite a hiatus from the character, Cullen returned to voice Optimus Prime in 2007 for Michael Bay’s film “Transformers,” sharing the screen with actors Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel. At the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen revealed that his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired his portrayal of Optimus Prime by embodying the qualities of a true hero.
In a statement announcing Cullen’s passing, his family emphasized his enduring impact on friends and fans worldwide, urging others to honor his legacy by showing compassion, integrity, and loyalty in their interactions with others, in line with the mantra “Be strong enough to be gentle.”