Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, dies at 85
Peter Cullen, the voice actor best known for playing Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died, according to his agent. He was 85.
Cullen passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, his agent Kevin Motley confirmed 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,” the family said in a statement.
Cullen became the original voice of Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots, in the 1984 animated series The Transformers. He returned to the role for the live-action film franchise, beginning with the 2007 movie and continuing through Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023.
He was also the voice of Eeyore, the gloomy but beloved donkey from the Hundred Acre Wood, in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh productions for more than three decades. His other voice roles included Monterey Jack in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers and KARR in Knight Rider.
“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,’” the statement said.
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