Peter Cullen, prolific voice actor who gave Optimus Prime his authoritative baritone, has died

Peter Cullen, the prolific voice actor renowned for his authoritative baritone as Optimus Prime, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home at age 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the death to the Associated Press. The family released a statement urging the public to honor his legacy by serving communities with compassion and integrity, and to remember “be strong enough to be gentle.” Cullen’s career spanned decades, from announcing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to voicing characters in The Smurfs. However, he struck a permanent chord as the leader of the Autobots in the 1984 Transformers series and as the melancholic Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise. He received a Children's and Family Emmy lifetime achievement award in 2023. A specific cause of death has not been disclosed. His passing marks a profound loss for the voice-acting community and generations of fans worldwide.