Renowned Canadian voice actor, Peter Cullen, known for his iconic roles as Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the sad news, stating that Cullen died at his residence in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Originally from Montreal, Cullen began his career on radio at CKGM before transitioning to television as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. He lent his voice to the giant ape in the 1976 version of “King Kong” and provided the menacing sounds for the creature in the 1987 film “Predator.”
Fans of the 1988-91 series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” may recognize Cullen as the voice of Eeyore. He continued to portray the lovable donkey in various adaptations, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.” However, his most prominent role was as the heroic Optimus Prime, the talking truck transformer, a character he portrayed since the early 1980s.
In 1986, the death of Optimus Prime in “The Transformers: The Movie” sparked a massive outcry among fans, leading to the character’s resurrection in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime” in 1987. Despite a hiatus from the role, Cullen was brought back by director Michael Bay for the 2007 film “Transformers,” sharing the screen with Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.
During the 2015 Calgary Comic Expo, Cullen shared that his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired the voice of Optimus Prime. Larry’s words about heroism being “strong enough to be gentle” resonated with Cullen and influenced his portrayal of the character.
In a statement following his passing, Cullen’s family acknowledged his significant impact and urged fans to honor his legacy by embodying compassion, integrity, and loyalty, always remembering to be “strong enough to be gentle.”