Peter Cullen, the actor best known for voicing Optimus Prime in the animated series and live-action film franchise Transformers, has died at 85.
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Cullen's agent shared that he died yesterday, Aug. 26, at his home in Los Angeles. Parade reports that no cause of death has been released.
"Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide," his family said in a statement. "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.'"
Peter Cullen Saw Optimus Prime as a "Hero"
Cullen was born in Montreal, Quebec, on July 28, 1941. Before taking on the role that would define his career, he starred in several shows and was the announcer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
As shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Cullen wasn't sure what to make of the character when he auditioned.
"I auditioned like everybody else," he said. "I was told it was a hero, and I was told it was a truck."
Cullen said his voice for Optimus Prime was inspired by his older brother, a Marine who served in Vietnam.
"When he came home, I could see a change. He was quieter, and he was a man and a superhero to me," he said in 2006. "I watched him and listened to him. I'd never had an opportunity to do a superhero, and when that came, [that voice] just came right out of me, and I sounded like Optimus."
Cullen not only won the role of the Autobot leader Optimus Prime, but he also voiced Ironhide.
The Actor Had No Idea How Popular "Transformers" Was
An entire generation of children in the 80s would rush home from school to watch the latest episode of Transformers. Yet Cullen had no idea how much his character meant to fans until the character died in the 1986 animated film.
The outcry from young fans (and their parents) was swift. Producers of the syndicated animated show then brought Cullen back to resurrect the character for the 1987 straight-to-video movie The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime.
When Michael Bay began work on the live-action Transformers films, he knew he had to hire Cullen to voice Optimus Prime.
"I describe it as kind of slipping into an old pair of very comfortable shoes that you haven't worn for a while," he said at the time. "I just slipped right into them, and they felt as good as the last time I put them on."
Of course, Cullen did more than voice a Peterbilt truck. He also originated the clicking sounds of the titular monster in Predator. He also voiced Eeyore for the 1980s series The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Cullen is survived by his children, Angus, Claire, Pilar, and Clay.
