Breaking: Voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, Passes away at 85

Voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, Passes Away at 85 The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Peter Cullen, who brought life to some of animation's most enduring characters. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the age of 85. His passing was confirmed to TMZ by his agent, with his family also sharing a statement requesting fans to honor his legacy by leading with compassion.

At this time, a specific cause of death remains unknown and has not been publicly announced, sources say he died of natural causes.

Cullen first voiced the heroic Autobot leader in the original 1984 animated Transformers television series. He famously reprised the role for the live-action franchise starting in 2007, continuing through recent releases like Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts. Iconic Voices: He was the longtime voice of Eeyore in several Winnie the Pooh projects and voiced Monterey Jack in the first season of Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. He created the distinctive vocalizations for the alien in the 1987 film Predator. Cullen holds the distinction of being the very first voice actor to portray Mario in animation, doing so in the 1980s Donkey Kong series. His immense contributions were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences during the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.

Rest in power Cullen🤍 🕊️