Peter Cullen, iconic voice of Optimus Prime, dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor celebrated for bringing Optimus Prime to life for almost four decades, died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 85.

His family confirmed the death in a statement released to TMZ and shared by Forbes, noting that Cullen passed away surrounded by his loved ones and that he was held in the hearts of his friends and millions of fans worldwide.

Cullen’s career spanned over six decades, with roles that ranged from the beloved Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh to the sinister Predator in the 1987 film. He also voiced the robot KARR in Knight Rider and contributed vocal effects for the 1976 King Kong film.

An enduring figure in animation, he began voicing Optimus Prime in the original 1984 Transformers series and later reprised the character in the animated series, live‑action movies directed by Michael Bay, and numerous video‑game adaptations.

Family and Legacy

Cullen is survived by his wife, Brandi, and their four children—Angus, Claire, Pilar and Clay—plus three grandchildren. The family urged fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and to recall his sometimes‑quoted admonition, ‘be strong enough to be gentle.’