Renowned Canadian voice actor 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.
Cullen, originally from Montreal, initially showcased his talent on the radio at CKGM and later transitioned to television as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS between 1967 and 1969. Notably, Cullen lent his voice to the giant ape in the 1976 version of “King Kong” and provided the chilling vocal effects for the monster in the 1987 film “Predator.”
His distinctive voice may ring a bell for millennials who watched the 1988-91 series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” where Cullen began voicing the character Eeyore. He continued this role in the 2002 movie “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year” and various other productions. However, his most significant contribution was portraying the talking truck transformer Optimus Prime since the early 1980s.
In 1986, fans were deeply upset by Optimus Prime’s demise in a battle with Megatron in “The Transformers: The Movie.” The character was resurrected in 1987 in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.” Despite a two-decade hiatus from the character, Cullen was rehired by director Michael Bay in 2007 for the film “Transformers,” alongside actors Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.
During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared how his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired his portrayal of Optimus Prime. Larry’s valor in combat and belief that true heroism lies in being “strong enough to be gentle” shaped Cullen’s approach to the character.
In a statement following his passing, Cullen’s family paid tribute to his enduring legacy and urged fans to honor his memory by embodying traits of compassion, integrity, and loyalty, encapsulated by the motto, “Be strong enough to be gentle.”