For more than four decades, millions of people knew Peter Cullen without necessarily knowing the man behind the voice.

Peter Cullen, the legendary actor who gave Optimus Prime his unmistakable voice in Transformers, has died at the age of 85.

Cullen died at his Los Angeles home, leaving behind one of the most recognizable voices in entertainment history.

For generations of Transformers fans, Cullen simply was Optimus Prime.

He first voiced the heroic Autobot leader in the original 1984 animated series and later returned when Transformers became a massive live-action movie franchise.

But many fans may not realize just how many childhood memories carried Cullen’s voice.

He was also the beloved voice of Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh productions and worked on classics including Knight Rider, G.I. Joe and The Smurfs. He even provided memorable vocal effects for the creature in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Predator.

There was also a deeply personal story behind Optimus Prime.

Cullen said he modeled the character’s strength and calmness partly after his older brother Larry, a U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran. His brother’s advice about portraying a true hero helped shape the Optimus Prime millions eventually came to love.

Peter Cullen leaves behind a remarkable legacy — and a voice that generations of fans will never forget.

1941–2026 💔