Transformers Cast Pays Tribute to Late Optimus Prime Actor Peter Cullen

Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor behind Optimus Prime, has died at the age of 85. News of his passing on Wednesday, August 26, was announced the following day.

In Transformers: The Movie, Autobot leader Optimus Prime suffers mortal injuries during a climactic duel with Megatron, the commander of the Decepticons. Before dying, the heroic leader offers a final comfort to his comrades.

“Autobots, do not grieve. Soon, I shall be one with the Matrix.”

Forty years after the debut of the animated feature, Cullen has joined the character he defined for generations of fans. Across a career spanning more than six decades, the actor performed hundreds of roles. He voiced Eeyore in various Winnie the Pooh releases, Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and the guttural vocalizations of the alien hunter in the 1987 sci-fi film Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the original 1984 animated series. He returned to lead the Autobots across multiple television series, video games, and director Michael Bay’s live-action feature films. Following the announcement of his death, fellow voice actors shared their tributes and memories of working alongside him.

Neil Ross

Bonecrusher, Crosshairs, Fracas, Hook, Slag, and others in Transformers

Neil Ross performed alongside Cullen on the original 1980s Transformers animated series, lending his voice to numerous Autobots and Decepticons.

“Peter Cullen was a lovely guy and a prodigious talent. I first met him working on the Pac-Man show for Hanna-Barbera in the early ‘80s and we went on to work together on Transformers, G.I. Joe, and many other shows over the years. We bonded over the fact that we both spent our formative years in Quebec, Canada. He was a true gentleman and one of those guys that I always looked forward to working with. He had such a great laugh — I’ll miss hearing it. He was a great talent, but always remained humble. I will miss him.”

David Kaye

Megatron in Beast Wars: Transformers and Transformers: Armada, Optimus Prime in Transformers: Animated

David Kaye, who has voiced both Megatron and Optimus Prime across different eras of the franchise, recalled his initial anxiety after winning the lead Autobot role in 2007.

“I remember when I was cast as Optimus Prime in Transformers: Animated (2007),” Kaye said. “At first I was like, ‘What? Optimus? I thought I was going to be Megatron.’ Then I thought, ‘Is Peter going to hate me?’”

Those fears disappeared the next time the two actors met.

“The next time I saw him, I apologized and he was so gracious, he said, ‘No, don’t even think about it.’”

Kaye later shared a recording booth with Cullen on another production.

“Working with him on Transformers: Prime, when I came in as one of the Insecticons, with Frank Welker as Megatron and Peter Cullen as Optimus, it was such a cool thing for me to be able to be in a project where the three of us were there. It meant the world, being in the same room as Peter. He had a presence — he filled the room. Even in his later years, he was a presence. To me, he was like a god of voiceover.”

Jess Harnell

Ironhide in the live-action Transformers films

Jess Harnell, who portrayed Ironhide in Michael Bay’s feature films, offered a concise tribute to Cullen’s central role in the franchise.

“If Transformers are cars that turn into robots, Peter held the keys and owned the garage. Rest in Prime, my friend.”

Garry Chalk

Optimus Primal in Beast Wars: Transformers, Optimus Prime in Transformers: Armada

Garry Chalk portrayed Optimus Primal in Beast Wars: Transformers before taking on the mantle of Optimus Prime in 2002’s Transformers: Armada and its follow-up series.

“I found out about Peter this morning,” Chalk said. “It came as quite a shock because I thought, like his iconic characters, he’d live forever.”

“I always found him to be a very personable human being and very genuinely interested in the fans. I found him to be a very quiet and humble man, which is something given the characters that he played. I met him once and he greeted me with good humor. We had some fun during a panel doing an ‘Optimus Off.’ I don’t think I can ever live up to his massive presence. He was so good at what he did. Rest in peace, Peter, you were an icon — you were loved by everyone and it’s a sad day for the Transformers community for sure.”

Source: Polygon