Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Today, the animation and voice acting world lost an absolute legend.
Peter Cullen, the iconic voice of Optimus Prime, has passed away at the age of 85.
And for me personally, this one hits especially hard.
My first real exposure to Transformers was when my dad took me to see the first live action Transformers movie when I was 10 years old.
I immediately fell in love with the Transformers universe, and Peter Cullen’s voice as Optimus Prime became inseparable from that character for me.
That love for Transformers would eventually become part of my own animation journey.
Back in 2012, when I was around 15 years old, one of the first Transformers parody animations I ever made was called A Decepticon Lunch Break.
And in 2015, Optimus Prime appeared in Cartoon Fight Club for the first time in Episode 12: Optimus Prime vs. Godzilla.
It was actually the first fully 3D episode of the series. Looking back, the animation was definitely rough, but it featured what is still my personal favorite incarnation of the character: Optimus Prime from Transformers: Prime.
So at this point, I’ve been a Transformers fan for about 19 years.
And through all of those different shows, movies, games and versions of the character, Peter Cullen was always the voice I associated with Optimus Prime.
But Optimus was only part of his incredible career.
Cullen also voiced Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh productions, provided the terrifying vocal sounds of the Predator, and was even one of the earliest voices of Mario in the Donkey Kong segments of Saturday Supercade.
For generations of fans, Peter Cullen didn’t just play Optimus Prime.
He gave Optimus his soul.
His family has asked fans to remember a phrase that perfectly represents both Cullen and the character he brought to life:
“Be strong enough to be gentle.”
Rest in peace, Peter Cullen.
And thank you for giving a voice to one of my childhood heroes.
Today, the animation and voice acting world lost an absolute legend.
Peter Cullen, the iconic voice of Optimus Prime, has passed away at the age of 85.
And for me personally, this one hits especially hard.
My first real exposure to Transformers was when my dad took me to see the first live action Transformers movie when I was 10 years old.
I immediately fell in love with the Transformers universe, and Peter Cullen’s voice as Optimus Prime became inseparable from that character for me.
That love for Transformers would eventually become part of my own animation journey.
Back in 2012, when I was around 15 years old, one of the first Transformers parody animations I ever made was called A Decepticon Lunch Break.
And in 2015, Optimus Prime appeared in Cartoon Fight Club for the first time in Episode 12: Optimus Prime vs. Godzilla.
It was actually the first fully 3D episode of the series. Looking back, the animation was definitely rough, but it featured what is still my personal favorite incarnation of the character: Optimus Prime from Transformers: Prime.
So at this point, I’ve been a Transformers fan for about 19 years.
And through all of those different shows, movies, games and versions of the character, Peter Cullen was always the voice I associated with Optimus Prime.
But Optimus was only part of his incredible career.
Cullen also voiced Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh productions, provided the terrifying vocal sounds of the Predator, and was even one of the earliest voices of Mario in the Donkey Kong segments of Saturday Supercade.
For generations of fans, Peter Cullen didn’t just play Optimus Prime.
He gave Optimus his soul.
His family has asked fans to remember a phrase that perfectly represents both Cullen and the character he brought to life:
“Be strong enough to be gentle.”
Rest in peace, Peter Cullen.
And thank you for giving a voice to one of my childhood heroes.
