Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor behind Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise and SO many more iconic voice roles over the last several decades, has died at 85.
Cullen died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home, according to his agent, who confirmed the news to TMZ this morning. The actor’s cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
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Cullen’s family shared a heartbreaking statement about his death with TMZ on Thursday:
“Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family — and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle.'”
Those words feel especially fitting for the man who gave a voice to one of animation’s most iconic heroes.
Cullen first became Optimus Prime in the original 1980s Transformers animated series, establishing the commanding yet compassionate voice that generations of fans came to know. He later returned to the role for Michael Bay’s Transformers movie franchise, helping bring that beloved character into a new era.
And Optimus Prime was only one part of Cullen’s long, extraordinary career. He voiced the Predator in the 1987 film Predator and also brought his talents to beloved characters including Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh and Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers. He also voiced KARR on Knight Rider and even played Mario in the original Donkey Kong animated series.
That is one seriously remarkable resumé!
Cullen’s voice became part of the soundtrack of childhood for countless fans, and his work reached far beyond a single character or franchise. His legacy is enormous, and so is the number of people who will remember hearing that unmistakable voice. What a legacy.
Rest in peace…
[Image via FayesVision/WENN]