Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, Dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the prolific voice actor best known for lending his authoritative baritone to Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" franchise and the gloomy Eeyore in "Winnie the Pooh," has died. He was 85.

His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed that Cullen passed away on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. In a family statement, his loved ones asked fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities and leading with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, echoing his famous advice to "be strong enough to be gentle."

Cullen's career spanned over five decades, from announcing on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in the late 1960s to roles in "The Smurfs" and various "G.I. Joe" series. However, it was his portrayal of the heroic Autobot leader in the 1984 animated series that cemented his place in pop culture history.

Before his audition for Optimus Prime, Cullen was only told he would be voicing a truck. He drew inspiration from his older brother Larry, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam. "He was my hero, and he certainly was the mainstay behind the character," Cullen recalled in 2019. "I just did an impression of Larry."

His iconic voice carried through the live-action "Transformers" films directed by Michael Bay, starting in 2007 and continuing through "Rise of the Beasts" in 2023. His memorable lines, such as "We are here. We are waiting," became cultural touchstones.

Beyond Transformers, Cullen voiced Eeyore in Disney's "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" (1988-1991), the villainous KARR in "Knight Rider," and King Kong in the 1976 remake. He was a regular at fan conventions, often moved to tears by the multi-generational appreciation for his work.

Cullen is survived by his four children: Angus, Claire, Pilar, and Clay.