- Primary Subject: Peter Cullen
- Key Update: Legendary voice actor Peter Cullen has passed away at the age of 85.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: August 27, 2026
- Quick Answer: Iconic voice actor Peter Cullen, famous for bringing Optimus Prime and Eeyore to life, has died peacefully at age 85 in Los Angeles.
Transformers voice actor Peter Cullen has passed away at the age of 85.
According to TMZ, the legendary performer died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. However, there are no details regarding the cause of his death at this time.
Cullen's family said in a statement: "Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.'"
Peter Cullen's Legendary Career
Cullen was widely known for his iconic voice work as Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise. He first voiced the character in The Transformers animated series in the 1980s, then he reprised the role in the 1986 animated film.
Decades later, he returned to the role in the Transformers live-action film franchise, where he voiced Optimus Prime starting in the 2007 Michael Bay film until 2023 in Rise of the Beasts.
He also voiced Optimus Prime in other Transformers properties, such as the animated series Transformers: Prime and various video game titles.
In a 2006 interview, Cullen revealed that Optimus Prime is his favorite voice role of his career since he based his performance on his brother Larry, who served in the Vietnam War.
"When he came home, I could see a change. He was quieter, and he was a man and a hero to me. I watched him and listened to him. I'd never had an opportunity to do a superhero, and when that came, [that voice] just came right out of me and I sounded like Optimus," he said.
Aside from Optimus Prime, he also provided the vocalizations for the Predator in the 1987 classic Predator and, most recently, voiced Thaedus in Invincible.
Other well-known characters that he voiced throughout his career are Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, K.A.R.R. in Knight Rider, Airborne and Zandar in G.I. Joe: An American Hero, and many more.
In 2023, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2nd Children's and Family Emmy Awards.
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