Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, has died at 85

Peter Cullen, the actor whose gravelly baritone gave voice to Optimus Prime for four decades, died on Wednesday, August 26, at his Los Angeles home, his family said, as tributes poured in from across Hollywood.

TL;DR

• Cullen died Wednesday, August 26, at his Los Angeles home; no cause of death has been released.
• He voiced Optimus Prime from the original 1984 animated series through five live-action films, plus “Bumblebee” and “Rise of the Beasts.”
• His family asked fans to honor him by serving their communities with compassion, integrity and loyalty.
• UK fact: “Rise of the Beasts” carried a 12A certificate from the BBFC and grossed more than $10 million at the UK box office.

A four-decade voice behind the Autobots

Peter Cullen, born in Montreal in 1941, first voiced Optimus Prime in the animated series that debuted in 1984. He went on to reprise the role in Michael Bay‘s live-action “Transformers” films, as well as “Bumblebee” and “Rise of the Beasts.”

Cullen’s other credits ranged widely. He played Eeyore in the “Winnie the Pooh” franchise, voiced the Predator’s clicking sounds in the 1987 film, and appeared as Optimus one final time on Fox’s “The Masked Singer” in 2024, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Family confirms his death

Cullen’s agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the actor’s death to Deadline, saying he died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. No cause of death has been disclosed. His family said in a statement carried by Deadline that Cullen “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.”

The family also asked fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities with compassion, integrity and loyalty, and to remember his phrase “be strong enough to be gentle.”

Cullen often said he drew on his older brother Larry, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, to find the character’s voice. He recalled, according to Wikipedia, “He was quieter and he was a man and a superhero to me.”

Tributes from the industry

Producer Don Murphy told TheWrap that Cullen’s work “will always be the stuff of legend,” reflecting on the push to bring him back for the 2007 film reboot. FJ DeSanto, showrunner of “Transformers: War for Cybertron,” according to TheWrap, said no one defines the franchise more than Cullen did.

The news lands during a difficult stretch for entertainment fans, with tributes referencing the recent deaths of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, according to Parade.

UK box office and rating

“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” received a 12A certificate from the BBFC for moderate action violence and threat, and it grossed more than $10 million during its UK theatrical run, according to Box Office Mojo.

His legacy

Cullen’s final on-screen turn as Optimus came via “The Masked Singer” in 2024, capping a run that began 40 years earlier. Fans across social media have continued sharing tributes to the voice they grew up with.

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Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.