Peter Cullen: Optimus Prime and Eeyore voice actor dies
Veteran Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen, renowned for his iconic roles as Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at the age of 85. The article details his extensive career, including other notable voice parts like KARR in Knight Rider and The Predator, and the inspiration behind his Optimus Prime voice.
Why it matters
Cullen's voice work shaped beloved characters for generations, leaving a significant legacy in animation and film that resonated with millions of fans worldwide. His passing marks the end of an era for many iconic franchises.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Peter Cullen voiced Optimus Prime in the original Transformers TV series and then the Hollywood films
Actor Peter Cullen, who voiced popular characters including Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Disney's Winnie the Pooh franchise, has died at the age of 85.
The Canadian actor began his most famous role - as the heroic deep-voiced Optimus Prime - for the Transformers TV series in 1984, then returned for seven Hollywood films from 2007 to 2023 and other spin-offs.
He voiced depressive donkey Eeyore in TV animation The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh from the late 1980s as well as numerous related shows, films and games.
His other memorable voice parts included KARR, the evil counterpart to KITT in TV show Knight Rider; the clicking vocalisations of The Predator in Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1987 film; and the roars of King Kong in 1976.
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