Peter Cullen, a renowned Canadian voice actor known for his iconic roles as Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the sad news, stating that Cullen died at his residence in Los Angeles at the age of 85.
Born in Montreal, Cullen initially showcased his talent on the radio before transitioning to television, where he served as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. In the 1976 rendition of “King Kong,” Cullen lent his voice to the giant ape and also provided the chilling sounds for the monster in the 1987 film “Predator.”
Fans, especially millennials, may recognize Cullen as the voice of Eeyore in “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” series from 1988 to 1991. He continued to portray Eeyore in various productions, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.” However, his most significant role was as Optimus Prime, the talking truck transformer, a role he started in the early 1980s.
Optimus Prime’s character was so beloved that when he perished in a battle with Megatron in “The Transformers: The Movie” in 1986, there was a massive fan outcry. Cullen reprised the role in 1987’s “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.” Despite not portraying the character for two decades, Cullen was brought back by director Michael Bay in 2007 for the film “Transformers,” alongside stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.
During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen disclosed how his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired his portrayal of Optimus Prime. Larry’s words about heroism being “strong enough to be gentle” resonated with Cullen and influenced his performance.
In a statement announcing Cullen’s passing, his family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from friends and fans worldwide. They encouraged everyone to honor Cullen’s legacy by demonstrating compassion, integrity, and loyalty, embodying the motto, “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
