This has been an incredibly sad week.
After saying goodbye to legends like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, fans are now mourning another familiar voice — Peter Cullen, the man behind some of the most beloved characters of our childhood.
Cullen, the Canadian-born voice actor best known as Optimus Prime in Transformers and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died at 85.
Cullen’s agent confirmed that Cullen passed away Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. His cause of death has not been revealed.
TMZ was the first outlet to break the heartbreaking news.
“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 said.
They asked fans to “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.’”
For millions of fans, Cullen’s deep, unmistakable voice was Optimus Prime. He first brought the heroic Autobot leader to life in the original animated Transformers series in the 1980s, beginning a role that would follow him for decades.
When Optimus Prime was killed in the 1986 animated movie, fans were devastated. The reaction was so intense that the character was eventually brought back, with Cullen later returning to the role for Michael Bay’s live-action Transformers films beginning in 2007.
But Optimus Prime was only part of Cullen’s extraordinary legacy.
Generations of children knew him as the voice of Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He also voiced Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, KARR in Knight Rider, and even Mario in the original Donkey Kong animated series.
He also supplied the terrifying vocal effects for the creature in Predator, giving one of cinema’s most frightening monsters its unforgettable sound.
”I don’t know how many voices I have done over the years. I couldn’t be dead on with an answer, but it has to be about 100 different characters,” the veteran television and film voice actor said in 2008.
Yet behind that legendary voice was a deeply personal story.
Cullen once revealed that his brother Larry, a U.S. Marine and decorated Vietnam veteran who had experienced combat, inspired the way he approached Optimus Prime. His brother taught him that a true hero was ”strong enough to be gentle.”
“It was his tone of voice and delivery as a leader, his control that impressed me, and I applied my brother’s attitude toward life to Optimus Prime,” Cullen shared.
Cullen also The Birmingham News that Optimus Prime held a special place in his heart and was his favorite character.
“Optimus is my favorite character because it’s been so well received and it’s had such an effect on so many people. Because of that, I hold it closer than any other character I’ve done.”
For those who grew up hearing his voice, Peter Cullen wasn’t simply a voice actor. He was Optimus Prime. He was Eeyore. He was part of childhood.
And now, that unmistakable voice has gone silent.
Rest in peace, Peter Cullen.