Peter Cullen, the voice actor known for portraying Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away. Cullen, aged 85, died at his residence in Los Angeles as confirmed by his agent, Kevin Motley, to CBC News.
Originally from Montreal, Cullen began his career in radio on CKGM before transitioning to television as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. His vocal talents were also showcased in the 1976 version of “King Kong” as the voice of the giant ape and in the 1987 film “Predator.”
Cullen’s voice may be familiar to millennials from his work on “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” from 1988 to 1991, where he started voicing Eeyore. He continued to portray Eeyore in various productions, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.” However, his most iconic role was as Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots in the “Transformers” franchise, a role he originated in the early 1980s.
In 1986, there was a significant fan outcry when Optimus Prime was killed in a battle with Megatron in “The Transformers: The Movie.” However, the character was resurrected in 1987 in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.” Despite a two-decade hiatus from the role, Cullen returned to voice Optimus Prime in the 2007 film “Transformers,” directed by Michael Bay.
During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared that his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired the voice of Optimus Prime. Larry’s words about true heroism being “strong enough to be gentle” resonated with Cullen and influenced his portrayal of the character.
In a statement released by Cullen’s family following his passing, they expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans and urged everyone to honor his legacy by demonstrating compassion, integrity, and loyalty, always remembering to “be strong enough to be gentle.”