Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor behind characters like Transformer hero Optimus Prime and Winnie the Pooh staple Eeyore, has died at 85, his agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Thusday.
"[Cullen] passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family — and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide,” a statement from his family to THR read. The family asked "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.'"
Cullen had been an active voice actor in Hollywood since the 1960s, with jobs ranging from announcing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to special vocal effects
in the first Gremlins movie. Of course, it was giving a baritone depth to Optimus and Eeyore that defined his voice acting career.
As we reflect on Cullen's towering career in voice work, let's look back at some of his biggest roles.
Optimus Prime, various Transformers film and television projects
Eeyore, various Winnie the Pooh film and television projects
King Kong, King Kong (1976), King Kong Lives (1986)
The Predator, Predator
Thaedus, Invincible
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Peter Cullen's best roles as we mourn the legendary voice actor's death
