Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor who brought Optimus Prime to life for generations of Transformers fans, has died at the age of 85. Cullen’s unmistakable voice became inseparable from the Autobot leader over a career spanning decades, making him one of the most beloved and recognizable performers in the franchise’s history.
Cullen died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his representative. The actor reportedly passed away peacefully surrounded by family, although a cause of death has not been publicly announced.
Although Cullen will forever be associated with Optimus Prime, his remarkable voice-acting career stretched far beyond Transformers. He was also known for voicing the gloomy but lovable Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh projects and even provided the distinctive vocalizations for the creature in 1987’s Predator, giving him a hand in creating another of pop culture’s most recognizable characters.
It was Optimus Prime, however, who became Cullen’s defining role. He first voiced the heroic Autobot leader in the original Transformers animated series in 1984 and went on to return to the character repeatedly over the following four decades, including in the blockbuster live-action movies. His deep, commanding voice became so closely associated with Optimus that, for generations of fans, it was difficult to imagine anyone else behind the character.
Transformers Fans Pay Tribute to Peter Cullen
Fans were quick to pay tribute to Cullen, with many focusing on just how inseparable his voice had become from Optimus Prime. One Reddit user summed up that connection simply, writing, “Regardless of what else he did. This man WAS Optimus Prime.” Others repeatedly referenced one of the character’s most famous lines, “TILL ALL ARE ONE!” as a fitting farewell to the actor.
For some longtime fans, Cullen’s death brought back memories of another famously emotional moment in Transformershistory. One person wrote, “I am absolutely gutted. Second time Optimus’s death has traumatized me. Right before all the 40th anniversary stuff kicked off for the movie too.”
The news also added to what has already been an incredibly difficult week for entertainment fans. Reactions included “What a horrible week” and “The week from hell continues,” while another person compared the recent string of losses to 2016, writing, “We’re rapidly reaching 2016 levels of depression in regards to beloved people dying.”
