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Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers,’ Dies at 85
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Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime and Eeyore, has died at 85 — here's the story behind the man fans knew only by voice. Peter Cullen, the actor behind Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at his Los Angeles home at age 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the news, though no cause of death has been shared publicly. In a statement, Cullen's family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, and asked fans to honor his legacy by leading with compassion and integrity. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Cullen amassed over 200 acting credits, including Knight Rider, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and vocal effects work on the 1987 film Predator. Long before Hollywood, Cullen got his start as the announcer on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour in the 1970s. He often spoke about discovering his gift for voices as a child on a dairy farm, and said that after Optimus Prime, his favorite role was gentle, gloomy Eeyore. His passing marks the end of one of animation and film's most recognizable voices. Video Breakdown: 00:00 – The voice behind Optimus Prime falls silent 00:15 – Cullen's passing and family statement 00:45 – Career highlights beyond Transformers and Winnie the Pooh 01:10 – The farm boy origin story 01:35 – His secret favorite role: Eeyore 01:55 – Final words of advice If this story moved you, watch our other celebrity tribute videos for more reflections on the icons who shaped entertainment. Subscribe for more entertainment news and updates: https://youtube.com/@NaijahotstarsTV?sub_confirmation=1 About Naijahotstars TV Naijahotstars TV delivers the latest celebrity news, entertainment updates, viral moments, relationship stories, industry developments, and trending pop culture conversations from around the world. 🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@NaijahotstarsTV 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/naijahotstars_tv 🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/naijahotstarstv 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/naijahotstarstv 🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@naijah
