‘Transformers’ voice actor Peter Cullen's cause of death at 85 revealed
Page Six • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor known for voicing Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" franchise, died last Wednesday at age 85 from cardiac arrest due to respiratory arrest, with an underlying cause of lung cancer.
- Cullen's family stated he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones and asked fans to honor his legacy by leading with compassion, integrity, and loyalty.
- Cullen voiced Optimus Prime in the original 1980s animated series, the 1986 movie, and every live-action "Transformers" film from 2007 to 2023, becoming an iconic figure in the franchise.
- Beyond "Transformers," Cullen was known for voicing Eeyore in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," providing vocal effects for King Kong (1976) and the Predator (1987), and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 for his voice acting contributions.
- In his 2023 Emmy acceptance speech, Cullen credited his late brother Larry, a US Marine Corps captain, as the inspiration for Optimus Prime’s character and shared the brother’s motto: “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
