Renowned Canadian voice artist 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 in his Los Angeles residence, as confirmed by his agent Kevin Motley to CBC News.
Starting his career on radio station CKGM, the Montreal-born actor later transitioned to television, notably as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. Cullen lent his voice to various characters, including the giant ape in the 1976 version of “King Kong” and the menacing creature in the 1987 film “Predator.”
Fans may recognize Cullen as the voice of Eeyore in “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” series from 1988 to 1991 and subsequent productions. However, his most prominent role was as Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots in the “Transformers” franchise, a character that garnered immense popularity and even sparked fan outrage over his on-screen demise in 1986.
Despite a hiatus from the role, Cullen was brought back to voice Optimus Prime in the 2007 film “Transformers” by director Michael Bay. Reflecting on the inspiration behind his portrayal, Cullen revealed at the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015 that his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, influenced his interpretation of a true hero as someone “strong enough to be gentle.”
In a statement announcing Cullen’s passing, his family emphasized his enduring impact on friends and fans worldwide, urging the public to honor his legacy by embodying qualities of compassion, integrity, and loyalty, echoing the poignant reminder to “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
