Peter Cullen, iconic voice of Optimus Prime, dies at 85

Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen has died at the age of 85. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family, according to his agent.

Cullen was most renowned for his commanding baritone voice as the Autobot leader Optimus Prime, a role he originated in the 1984 Transformers animated series and continued through various films and live-action productions. His performance was so impactful that the character's death in the 1986 film 'The Transformers: The Movie' reportedly caused widespread grief among fans.

Beyond the Transformers franchise, Cullen had a prolific six-decade career with over 200 credits. His notable roles included voicing Eeyore in the 'Winnie the Pooh' series, KARR in 'Knight Rider', and providing vocal effects for the creature in 'Predator'.