Peter Cullen, Longtime Voice-Over Artist and Original Voice of Optimus Prime, Passes Away at 85

Longtime actor and veteran voice-over artist, Peter Cullen, best known to fans as the longtime voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, has passed away. Cullen’s agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. The legendary talent was 85 years old.

THR reports that Peter Cullen died in his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Aug. 26), with friends and family present. His family said in a statement that Cullen “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family — and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide.” His family also requested that fans “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.'”

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Cullen has voiced many iconic characters in television and film. He created the voice for King Kong in the iconic franchise’s 1976 remake. He also served as the voice of K.A.R.R., the evil automobile adversary of K.I.T.T. in Knight Rider. He also came up with the iconic voice of the Predator creature in the original 1987 movie, Predator.

Earlier in his career, Cullen also served as the announcer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. However, he’s likely best known for his voice as the original voice of Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots, in the Marvel Sunbow Productions animated series, The Transformers, which debuted in syndication in 1984.

Cullen voiced Optimus Prime across all four seasons of the hit series, including the 1986 animated feature, The Transformers: The Movie, where Prime tragically dies in a fight to the death with Megatron. Fans were so traumatized by Optimus’ death that Hasbro devised a way to bring Prime back near the end of the show’s run.

Other notable roles for Cullen include the voice of Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh</> franchise, Coran in the original Voltron, Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Ramrod Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. He also once voiced the Captain America foe, the Red Skull, in the 1981 Spider-Man animated series.

In 2007, Cullen notably returned to the role of Optimus Prime for the Transformers franchise’s live-action theatrical debut, directed by Michael Bay. Cullen voiced the character across all five of the live-action features, along with its two later installments, Bumblebee, and 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which marks Cullen’s final outing as the character.

After returning to the franchise in 2007, Cullen routinely voiced Prime in multiple shows and video games, including the hit series, Transformers: Prime, and its subsequent continuation, Transformers: Robots in Disguise. The former also featured legendary veteran voice-over artist Frank Welker returning as Megatron. Cullen was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his work in Transformers: Prime.

In the past, Cullen has spoken openly about taking inspiration from his late older brother, Larry, who served as a U.S. Marine in the Vietnam War from 1965-68, for his voice of Optimus Prime

More recently, Cullen portrayed a recurring role in the hit animated series, Invincible, based on Robert Kirkman’s comic. Cullen voiced Thadeus, a Viltrumite who rebelled against his own kind, forming the Coalition of Planets, an intergalactic peacekeeping organization that sought to defend the galaxy from the Viltrumites’ tyranny.

Peter Cullen is survived by his children, Angus, Claire, Pilar, and Clay, a stunt performer and coordinator. On behalf of 411, we send our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Cullen.