Peter Cullen, The Voice of Optimus Prime, Dead at 85

When PETER CULLEN auditioned for the role of OPTIMUS PRIME in 1984, he asked the advice of his older brother Larry on how he should portray the role.

Larry had served in Vietnam 16 years earlier and Peter remembered him coming home changed. Larry told Peter when he auditioned, "Don't be a Hollywood hero, be a real hero. Real heroes don't yell and act tough. They are tough enough to be gentle, so control yourself."

Larry Passed away at the age of 70 on March 25, 2011 when Transformer: Dark Side of the Moon was in post production.

Peter credited the advice from his brother for the voice that came out of him when he became Optimus. He said he thought of his brother Larry, a man and a superhero and tried to do his voice... And for the next 40 years we were blessed with one of the most impressive and inspiring voices in all of animation. Peter's voice was so iconic that even at the age of 82, he came back to voice Optimus Prime once again in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023.

Cullen, who was Canadian, is also known for voicing Eeyore in the "Winnie the Pooh" franchise, Predator in the 1987 "Predator" movie, Monterey Jack from the 2022 film "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers," and KARR, the evil prototype and predecessor to K.I.T.T in the classic 1980s TV series "Knight Rider."

He also provided sounds for King Kong, the Mogwai in "Gremlins," and the Predator. With over 200 credits, his prolific career spanned numerous animated series, earning him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.

“Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide,” Cullen’s family told TMZ in a statement. “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.'”