Peter Cullen’s legacy: Why his voice will live on after his death
By Trizer Lijondo, August 28, 2026Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor behind Transformers’ Optimus Prime and Winnie the Pooh’s Eeyore, has died at the age of 85.
Cullen died on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles, his agent Kevin Motley confirmed. According to the Associated Press, his career spanned decades and included more than 200 acting credits. His family described his death as peaceful and urged fans to honour his legacy through compassion, integrity and loyalty.
The man behind Optimus Prime
Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the 1984 animated Transformers series, creating a deep, authoritative voice that would become inseparable from the Autobot leader.
Speaking to the Associated Press in 2019, Cullen recalled that before his audition, he only knew he was reading for a truck. After learning more about Optimus Prime, he thought about his older brother Larry, a US Marine and Vietnam veteran.
“He was my hero, and he certainly was the mainstay behind the character,” Cullen said. “I just did an impression of Larry, and he’s still alive in my mind today because every time I do Prime, there’s my brother Larry.”
That performance followed him into the live-action Transformers franchise, from the 2007 film through Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023.
From Eeyore to the Predator
Optimus Prime may have been his most famous role, but Cullen’s range extended much further.
He voiced Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh productions, KARR in Knight Rider and provided the distinctive clicking sounds of the Predator in the 1987 film. He also voiced King Kong in the 1976 remake and worked on productions including The Smurfs and G.I. Joe.
Cullen once described Optimus Prime as his favourite character, telling The New York Times in 2008: “Optimus is my favorite character because it’s been so well received and it’s had such an effect on so many people.” He added that Eeyore was close behind because of the effect the character had on younger children.
A lesson beyond voice acting
Cullen’s words also revealed his philosophy about developing talent.
In comments reported by ABC News, he advised young people to find something they enjoy and continue working at it.
“No matter what it is, it’s like working a muscle, the more you work it, the bigger it gets,” he said. He added, “If you find something you love to do, do it, stick with it.”
In 2023, Cullen received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. His legacy now lives on not only through Optimus Prime and Eeyore but also through the generations who grew up recognising his unmistakable voice.