{"id":2116220,"date":"2026-08-27T14:59:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T11:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2116220"},"modified":"2026-08-27T14:59:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T11:59:44","slug":"long-time-optimus-prime-voice-actor-peter-cullen-has-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2116220","title":{"rendered":"Long-Time Optimus Prime Voice Actor Peter Cullen Has Died"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-526212816-1200×675.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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Peter Cullen, a man many Transformers<\/em> fans have come to love as the voice of Optimus Prime, the Autobots\u2019 fearless leader, has died at the age of 85.<\/p>\n

The news of Cullen\u2019s passing was broken by TMZ. According to the publication, Cullen died on August 26. His cause of death is currently unknown, but his family provided a statement about the legendary voice actor:<\/p>\n

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\u201cPeter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family\u2014and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and always remember, \u2018be strong enough to be gentle.’\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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In addition to voicing Optimus Prime in Hasbro\u2019s original animated series and Michael Bay\u2019s live-action films, Cullen provided his talents to many other characters and series. Key among them is Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh<\/em>, KARR in\u00a0Knight Rider<\/em>, and Monterey Jack in\u00a0Chip \u2018n Dale: Rescue Rangers<\/em>. He even voiced Mario in Nintendo\u2019s Donkey Kong<\/em> series in the 1980s, according to TMZ.<\/p>\n

Prior to Cowboy Bebop<\/em> star Steve Blum becoming the voice a generation of kids who grew up watching Toonami would fondly remember from their childhoods, Cullen was the voice behind the late night cartoon and anime channel\u2019s stylish promos. Most recently, Cullen starred in Prime Video\u2019s adaptation of Robert Kirkman\u2019s Invincible<\/em> as Thaedus\u2014a show whose fourth season featured a Transformers<\/em> reunion, as Megatron voice actor Frank Welker voiced Emperor Argall, who clashes with Thaedus.<\/p>\n

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To say Cullen\u2019s impact on animation and cartoons as a medium was profound would be an understatement. For many, his voice was a comfort and a reassurance, bringing his heroes to life in ways that rivaled the skilled animation and character designs that matched them. He will be sorely missed.<\/p>\n

Update 12:45 PM ET:<\/strong> Adult Swim and Invincible<\/em> posted tributes to Cullen.<\/p>\n

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Rest in power, Peter Cullen. One of one. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com\/Jobl0shIoo<\/p>\n

\u2014 adult swim (@adultswim) August 27, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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RIP, Peter. <\/p>\n

Our team teared up hearing you record as Thaedus the first time, and our eyes are misty again now. <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll ALWAYS have a coalition of fans in us. <\/p>\n

Rest easy, friend. pic.twitter.com\/OcOJvqWiO5<\/p>\n

\u2014 INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) August 27, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what\u2019s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Peter Cullen, a man many Transformers<\/em> fans have come to love as the voice of Optimus Prime, the Autobots\u2019 fearless leader, has died at the age of 85.<\/p>\n

The news of Cullen\u2019s passing was broken by TMZ. According to the publication, Cullen died on August 26. His cause of death is currently unknown, but his family provided a statement about the legendary voice actor:<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cPeter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family\u2014and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and always remember, \u2018be strong enough to be gentle.’\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In addition to voicing Optimus Prime in Hasbro\u2019s original animated series and Michael Bay\u2019s live-action films, Cullen provided his talents to many other characters and series. Key among them is Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh<\/em>, KARR in\u00a0Knight Rider<\/em>, and Monterey Jack in\u00a0Chip \u2018n Dale: Rescue Rangers<\/em>. He even voiced Mario in Nintendo\u2019s Donkey Kong<\/em> series in the 1980s, according to TMZ.<\/p>\n

Prior to Cowboy Bebop<\/em> star Steve Blum becoming the voice a generation of kids who grew up watching Toonami would fondly remember from their childhoods, Cullen was the voice behind the late night cartoon and anime channel\u2019s stylish promos. Most recently, Cullen starred in Prime Video\u2019s adaptation of Robert Kirkman\u2019s Invincible<\/em> as Thaedus\u2014a show whose fourth season featured a Transformers<\/em> reunion, as Megatron voice actor Frank Welker voiced Emperor Argall, who clashes with Thaedus.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

To say Cullen\u2019s impact on animation and cartoons as a medium was profound would be an understatement. For many, his voice was a comfort and a reassurance, bringing his heroes to life in ways that rivaled the skilled animation and character designs that matched them. He will be sorely missed.<\/p>\n

Update 12:45 PM ET:<\/strong> Adult Swim and Invincible<\/em> posted tributes to Cullen.<\/p>\n

\n

Rest in power, Peter Cullen. One of one. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com\/Jobl0shIoo<\/p>\n

\u2014 adult swim (@adultswim) August 27, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

RIP, Peter. <\/p>\n

Our team teared up hearing you record as Thaedus the first time, and our eyes are misty again now. <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll ALWAYS have a coalition of fans in us. <\/p>\n

Rest easy, friend. pic.twitter.com\/OcOJvqWiO5<\/p>\n

\u2014 INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) August 27, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what\u2019s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n

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[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-526212816-1200×675.jpg”] Peter Cullen, a man many Transformers fans have come to love as the voice of Optimus Prime, the Autobots\u2019 fearless leader, has died at the age of 85. The news of Cullen\u2019s passing was broken by TMZ. According to the publication, Cullen died on August 26. His cause of death is currently […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,53],"class_list":["post-2116220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-gizmodo-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2116220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2116220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2116220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2116220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2116220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2116220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}