Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen, best known as the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, has died at 85.
Cullen died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent Kevin Motley, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
His family said Cullen “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family” and remembered him for his compassion, integrity and loyalty.
Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the original The Transformers animated series in the 1980s. He later reprised the iconic role in Michael Bay’s live-action Transformers films, beginning with the 2007 movie.
Aside from Optimus Prime, Cullen was also known for voicing Eeyore in numerous Winnie the Pooh projects and K.A.R.R. in Knight Rider.
He also provided the distinctive clicking sounds of the Predator creature in the 1987 film Predator and voiced King Kong in the 1976 remake.
Cullen’s career spanned decades, making him one of the most recognizable voices in animation and film.
