Voice actor Peter Cullen, known for Optimus Prime, dies at 85 from cardiac arrest

Peter Cullen, the actor who provided the voice of Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" franchise, died at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday at age 85. A death certificate obtained by media reports lists cardiac arrest caused by respiratory failure as the immediate cause, with an underlying malignant tumor in the lower lobe of his lung.

Cullen's family released a statement saying he died peacefully surrounded by relatives and asked fans to honor his legacy by serving their communities with compassion, integrity and loyalty.

Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the 1980s animated series and returned to the role for the 2007 live-action film and its sequels, including "Revenge of the Fallen," "Dark of the Moon," "Age of Extinction," "The Last Knight," "Bumblebee" and "Rise of the Beasts." He also voiced Eeyore in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and contributed vocal effects for characters such as King Kong and the Predator.

In 2023, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. During his acceptance speech, he credited his late brother, a former Marine Corps captain, for inspiring the character of Optimus Prime.

Cullen is scheduled to be interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Sept. 9.