• Peter Cullen, legendary voice actor, has died at 85 at his home in Los Angeles.
• He was best known for voicing Optimus Prime in the Transformers series and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh.
• Cullen's unique approach to Optimus Prime was inspired by his brother, a Vietnam War veteran.
• His career spanned over six decades, accumulating more than 200 credits across various media.
• Cullen received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023.

Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor renowned for his roles as Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise and Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh series, has passed away at the age of 85. According to his agent Kevin Motley, Cullen died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family, who requested that fans celebrate his legacy through acts of compassion and integrity, emphasizing the memorable quote, "be strong enough to be gentle" from his characters, especially Optimus Prime, which highlights his values. He died peacefully, with his family by his side, but the cause of death has not been disclosed, according to BBC, South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and Bangkok Post.

Cullen's voice acting career began in Canadian radio and television, but he rose to prominence with roles on American TV shows such as The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. His breakthrough came in 1984 when he was cast as Optimus Prime in the original Transformers animated series, a character inspired by his older brother, Larry, a veteran of the Vietnam War. Cullen characterized Optimus Prime with a voice that conveyed strength and gentleness, a portrayal he crafted based on his brother's advice to avoid a typical Hollywood hero persona, according to BBC, South China Morning Post, and Bangkok Post.

Throughout his six-decade career, Cullen lent his voice to numerous animated projects, including characters in films, television shows, and video games, amassing over 200 credits. His work as Optimus Prime spanned several animated series and live-action films, with his authoritative baritone resonating with audiences worldwide in both animated iterations and live action from 2007 to 2023. This engagement with fans persisted even as he attended conventions nationwide where he often got emotional meeting audience members, highlighting the strong connection he forged with fans across generations, as noted by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

Cullen's final role was Thaedus in the animated series Invincible, which aired its third season on Prime Video. In recognition of his contributions to voice acting, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023, underscoring the impact of his work in animated storytelling. His legacy will continue through the characters he portrayed and the lives he touched with his performances, according to BBC, Bangkok Post, and Channel News Asia.