Peter Cullen has died at the age of 85. The actor voiced the leader of the Transformers, Optimus Prime, over a span of four decades.
Cullen voiced the Autobot leader character across dozens of projects, from the original animated 1980s cartoons to the Michael Bay-directed live-action films and the various shows and games in between.
While a cause of death has not been released, a statement has been given by his family to TMZ and reportedly says:
“Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you 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.”
He also lent his voice to dozens of projects – he did the vocalisations of the Predator in the Schwarzenegger-led “Predator” was the first voice of KARR in “Knight Rider,” was Monterey Jack in “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” and Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise.
Other work includes the 1970s “King Kong,” “G.I. Joe: The Movie,” “The Little Engine That Could,” “Gremlins” and “Treasure Planet”.
His passing follows in the wake of what has been a brutal 72 hours which has seen a number of entertainment icons in their 80s – like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry – also passing away.
