Peter Cullen's Death Certificate Lists Cardiac Arrest and Lung Cancer as Causes
The voice actor behind Optimus Prime died at 85 from cardiac arrest linked to respiratory failure, with lung cancer identified as an underlying condition.
Peter Cullen, the Canadian actor best known for voicing Optimus Prime, died at age 85 in Los Angeles. A death certificate obtained by media reports indicates the immediate cause was cardiac arrest following respiratory arrest, with a malignant tumor in the lower lobe of his lungs listed as an underlying factor.
Cullen's representative, Kevin Motley, confirmed the actor's passing and said he died at home surrounded by family. The family issued a statement urging fans to honor Cullen's legacy by serving their communities with compassion, integrity and loyalty.
Cullen's portrayal of Optimus Prime, first in the original animated series and later in films, video games and other projects, will appear posthumously in a 12-minute short titled "Optimus Prime: Awakening," scheduled to accompany 40th-anniversary screenings of the 1986 movie beginning Sept. 17.
Frank Welker, who has voiced Megatron for decades, commented on the upcoming short: "Optimus Prime and Megatron were made for each other. Peter’s portrayal of Prime was born of his own personal beliefs: honesty, loyalty, and always insisting on doing the right thing. Returning as Megatron and Soundwave for one final story opposite Peter’s Optimus was a real gift. I will miss my friend, but that voice and his heart and values will always be part of Optimus Prime."
Cullen also voiced characters such as Eeyore in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," Monterey Jack in "Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers," and roles in the "Voltron" series, among others. He earned a Daytime Emmy for his work on the "Transformers: Prime" animated series.