Peter Cullen, Iconic Optimus Prime Voice, Dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the Canadian actor famed for voicing Optimus Prime, has died at age 85 in Los Angeles. The cause of death has not been revealed, and his passing was confirmed by his family, who urged the public to honor his legacy by serving communities with compassion, integrity and loyalty, and to remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.' Cullen's career spanned decades across Transformers films, TV series, and video games, and he also voiced Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh projects, Predator in Predator (1987), Knight Rider's KARR, and other roles including a Donkey Kong series character. He voiced Optimus Prime from the 1980s animated series through modern films, including the Michael Bay-verse, making him one of the most associated voices with the franchise. Tributes poured in from fans and colleagues, noting his iconic contribution to animation and live-action projects. His absence marks the end of an era for a performer described as a towering figure in the industry.