Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers,’ Dies at 85

Peter Cullen , the voice actor behind the Autobots leader Optimus Prime in “ Transformers ” and the mopey Eeyore in several “Winnie-the-Pooh” projects, died on Wednesday, his agent Kevin Motley confirmed. He was 85.

Cullen passed at his family home in Los Angeles, “surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide,” his family said in a statement.

“His family asks that you 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,’” the family statement continued. Popular on Variety

A prolific voice actor whose credits numbered in the hundreds, Cullen’s most distinctive role was as Optimus Prime across several “Transformers” shows, films and video games. He originated the Autobots leader’s deep, authoritative voice in the 1980s animated series “The Transformers,” which captured the war between the Autobots and Decepticons and spawned a subsequent feature film.