entertainment
Peter Cullen: Optimus Prime and Eeyore voice actor dies
Actor Peter Cullen, who voiced popular characters including Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Disney's Winnie the Pooh franchise, has died at the age of 85.
TL;DR
- Peter Cullen, the voice actor behind Optimus Prime and Eeyore, has died at the age of 85.
- He voiced Optimus Prime starting in 1984 and returned for numerous films and spin-offs.
- Cullen also voiced Eeyore from the late 1980s in various Winnie the Pooh productions.
- His other notable roles included KARR in Knight Rider, The Predator's vocalisations, and King Kong's roars.
- His iconic Optimus Prime voice was inspired by his brother, a US Marine, who advised him to portray the character as 'strong enough to be gentle'.
- Cullen received a Daytime Emmy nomination and a lifetime achievement award at the Children's & Family Emmy Awards.
- His family asks that his legacy be honored by serving communities with compassion, integrity, and loyalty.