Peter Cullen, Beloved Voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, Passes Away at 85

Peter Cullen, the Canadian actor who gave voice to Optimus Prime across Transformers media and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh projects, has died at his Los Angeles home. His agent confirmed the death, and his family noted he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Beyond those iconic roles, Cullen also voiced King Kong in the 1976 remake and created the Predator's signature clicking sounds.

Cullen’s career spanned live-action announcing on variety shows before he found his niche in animation. His portrayal of Optimus Prime began with the 1984 syndicated series, and his character’s on-screen death in the 1986 animated film sparked such fan backlash that producers revived him the following year. He later returned for Michael Bay’s live-action franchise, which grossed over a billion dollars per film in several installments. For Eeyore, he voiced the character across multiple series and specials, often greeting fans with the donkey’s signature line. He also contributed sound effects to the 1987 film *Predator*.

Cullen’s family emphasized his guiding principle, “be strong enough to be gentle,” in their statement. His agent confirmed he died peacefully at home in Los Angeles, surrounded by loved ones. Beyond his two most famous roles, he voiced King Kong in the 1976 remake and the villainous K.A.R.R. on *Knight Rider*. His work spanned decades, from television to blockbuster cinema, leaving a lasting imprint on generations of audiences.