Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor whose commanding voice made Optimus Prime one of the most recognizable characters in popular culture, has died at age 85.
Cullen died Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent. His family said he “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.” A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Cullen built an extensive career across television, animation, and film. He first voiced Optimus Prime in the original 1984 animated Transformers series and eventually carried the character into the live-action movie franchise. Cullen returned as Optimus Prime for Michael Bay’s Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), and Bumblebee (2018).
Cullen’s final released feature film was Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), directed by Steven Caple Jr. The film brought Optimus Prime into a new adventure alongside the Maximals, with Cullen once again providing the character’s voice. Paramount’s official credits list Cullen alongside Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage and Michelle Yeoh.
His film work extended well beyond Transformers. Cullen supplied the distinctive vocalizations of the Predator in the 1987 action classic Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. His contribution is credited as “special vocalization” in the film’s production credits. He also voiced Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year, continuing a role he had made famous through The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Disney lists Cullen among the film’s cast.
Cullen also participated in the Transformers: 40th Anniversary Event in 2024, returning to Optimus Prime for a special theatrical celebration featuring the original animated series and an exclusive table read with other original voice actors. Hasbro confirmed Cullen’s participation in the event.
Cullen is survived by his four children, Angus, Claire, Pilar and Clay, as well as three grandchildren.
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