Peter Cullen, Iconic Voice Of Optimus Prime, Dies At 85

Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor best known for giving life to Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, has died. He was 85.

Cullen passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the news. A family statement said he was “held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide.”

The family asked that people honour his legacy “by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle.’”

Cullen originated the deep, authoritative voice of the Autobot leader in the original 1980s Transformers animated series. He continued in the role for decades, including the 1986 animated film and the live-action movies directed by Michael Bay, most recently Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in 2023.

He was also the longtime voice of Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh projects and provided voices for characters including the Predator, King Kong in the 1976 film, and roles in Knight Rider, Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and more.

Born in Montreal in 1941, Cullen was part of the first graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada. He is survived by his four children.