Acclaimed voice actor Peter Cullen, best known for bringing Optimus Prime to life in the Transformers franchise, has died at the age of 85.
Cullen died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, his agent told TMZ. A cause of death was not specified. His family released a statement saying he "passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide."
Cullen lent his distinctive voice to the iconic alien robot Optimus Prime in the classic 1980s animated series and reprised the role in a series of live-action films. Fans of classic children's television also recognize his voice as Eeyore, the melancholic donkey from Disney's The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which aired from 1988 to 1991.
Born Peter Claver Cullen in Montreal in 1941, he initially pursued a career in dramatic acting, studying Shakespeare as part of the National Theatre School of Canada's inaugural graduating class. However, he found himself drawn to comedy and impressions, describing himself as "the clown" in school.
He began his career working in local film and television in Montreal and performing in nightclub revues, where he developed his skill with various accents and characters. He later moved to Hollywood with his wife and child, initially taking on a role in a show similar to "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" that ultimately flopped. This led him to an announcing job on "The Sonny & Cher Show."
It was comedian Jonathan Winters who encouraged Cullen to pursue voice acting, suggesting, "You know, Peter, what you ought to is, you ought to do your voices. Those voices, you could make a lot of bread."
Cullen's family has asked that his legacy be honored by "serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.'"
