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.
Cullen, originally from Montreal, began his career on the 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 remake of “King Kong” and provided the terrifying sounds for the monster in “Predator” in 1987.
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 gloomy donkey in various productions, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.” However, his most significant role was voicing Optimus Prime, the heroic transformer, starting in the early 1980s.
In 1986, there was a notable outcry from fans when Optimus Prime met his demise in a battle with Megatron in “The Transformers: The Movie.” The character was later resurrected in 1987 in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.” Director Michael Bay brought Cullen back in 2007 for the film “Transformers,” where he starred alongside Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.
During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared that his brother Larry, a former U.S. Marine decorated for his bravery, inspired the voice of Optimus Prime. Cullen’s family, in a statement announcing his passing, emphasized his lasting impact on fans and urged the public to honor his legacy by serving their communities with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, always remembering to “be strong enough to be gentle.”
