Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen, best known as the voice of Optimus Prime in «Transformers,» has died at the age of 85. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the original «Transformers» animated series in the 1980s. He later returned to voice the Autobot leader in Michael Bay’s feature films and also portrayed the character in video games. For generations of «Transformers» fans, Cullen’s distinctive, deep voice was one of the character’s defining features.
Beyond «Transformers,» Cullen worked on numerous animated series and television shows. He voiced Eeyore in the «Winnie the Pooh» franchise, Monterey Jack in «Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers» and the artificial intelligence KARR in «Knight Rider.» One of Cullen’s final roles was Thaedus in the animated series «Invincible.»
Cullen’s family confirmed his death and asked fans to «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.»
