Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime in 'Transformers,' dies at 85

Voiced Optimus Prime in 'Transformers' for 4 decades

Iconic Autobot leader role brought him worldwide fame

Also known as Eeyore in 'Winnie the Pooh' series

Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader in the "Transformers" film franchise. [Getty Images]

Peter Cullen, the voice actor who spent nearly four decades voicing Optimus Prime — the noble Autobot leader in the "Transformers" film and animation franchise — has died. He was 85.

ABC News reported that Cullen died Wednesday (local time) at his home in Los Angeles.

His family said in a statement that he "passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family," adding that "he will live on in the hearts of his many friends and fans around the world."

Peter Cullen, the voice actor behind Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" franchise. [AP]

Cullen was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1941 and got his start in broadcasting as an announcer at a Canadian radio station. He went on to appear in CBC Radio comedy series before moving to Hollywood in 1967 to work on various comedy programs. A hosting role on "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" led him to pursue a career in voice acting.

His signature role came in "Transformers," the hugely popular shape-shifting robot action franchise. He voiced Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, throughout the animated film series that ran from 1984 to 1987.

Optimus Prime was so beloved that when the character was killed off in a 1986 episode, fans reacted with fierce backlash — prompting the writers to revise the story and produce "The Return of Optimus Prime" the following year.

When director Michael Bay brought "Transformers" to live-action screens in 2007, Cullen returned to voice Optimus Prime once more — a decision fans accepted as the only possible choice.

Iconic lines from the films — including "Autobots, roll out!" and "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" — were delivered in Cullen's voice. He continued in the role through the subsequent sequels, the spinoff "Bumblebee," and the TV series "Transformers: Prime" (2010–2013).

Another defining role was Eeyore, the gloomy donkey in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," which aired from 1988 to 1991. Over the course of his career, Cullen lent his voice to more than 200 films and animated productions.

His family asked that people remember the motto Cullen carried with him when he first auditioned for the role of Optimus Prime: "Be strong enough to be gentle."

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