Voice actor Peter Cullen, known for his iconic roles as Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away at the age of 85 at his residence in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his agent Kevin Motley to CBC News. Cullen, originally from Montreal, began his career in radio on CKGM before transitioning to television as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969.
In addition to voicing King Kong in the 1976 remake and creating the monster sounds in “Predator” in 1987, Cullen endeared himself to audiences as the voice of Eeyore in “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” from 1988 to 1991 and later reprised the role in various productions, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.”
However, Cullen’s most notable role was as Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots in the “Transformers” franchise. His portrayal of Optimus Prime, which began in the early ’80s, resonated with fans to the extent that there was significant backlash in 1986 when the character met his demise in “The Transformers: The Movie.” To rectify this, Optimus Prime was brought back to life in 1987 in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.”
Despite a hiatus from the character, Cullen was rehired by director Michael Bay in 2007 for the film “Transformers,” starring alongside Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel. At the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared that the inspiration for Optimus Prime’s voice came from his brother Larry, a U.S. Marine decorated for his bravery in combat. Larry’s belief that true heroism lies in being “strong enough to be gentle” resonated with Cullen, shaping his portrayal of the character.
Upon news of Cullen’s passing, his family emphasized his enduring impact on friends and fans worldwide, urging the public to honor his legacy by embodying qualities such as compassion, integrity, and loyalty, encapsulated in the mantra “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
