Yesterday, Mr. Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, among other beloved characters, passed away at the age of 85. If you’ve got even a passing knowledge of Transformers (or grew up watching Winnie the Pooh), you’ve heard his voice. Myself, and some of the other regulars on our Sunday streams decided to write our thoughts, feelings, and memories out, which I’ll share here.
Fear or Courage:
“I may not have a weapon, but I can still transform, and roll!”
No one today calls “City of Steel” a masterpiece, but to a 6 year old, watching an armless Optimus declare this, before rolling out and stopping the bad guys was an unbelievably cool moment. Same with the entirety of “Prime Target,” aka the one with the big game hunter who was after Optimus’s head. In my young memory, Optimus was cool as a cucumber, deftly weaving his way through Chumley’s traps, never seeming rattled by anything. It was all anchored by Peter Cullen’s performance, which I’d find out years later was based on his brother’s self-assured demeanour. I think that’s what separated him from the other action heroes of my youth, the way he demonstrated a kind of otherworldly reassurance, even while under fire. I didn’t have that seemingly formative experience of being traumatized by Prime’s death in the ‘86 movie, since I only watched it years later, but it makes perfect sense to me that watching the parental figure with all the answers fall represented something dark.
In the 21st century, “they got the original Optimus Prime back” became an easy bond with people who weren’t in the hobby, and I was happy that the Bayverse films provided a window into that character for new people to experience, if nothing else. And I remember watching the first episode of Transformers Prime, wishing Peter Cullen would give a eulogy at my funeral, too, even dimly knowing at the time that there was an obvious reason why that could never happen.
I saw Peter Cullen in person a couple of times over the years, when they got him at TFCon, and something about the character he played clicked: Peter himself was fundamentally from a different, older time, removed from modern fan culture. He was a classy gentleman who voiced cartoon characters, and regarded himself more like Mel Blanc than any modern voice actor, despite taking the character so seriously. And I think that shone through in the kind of timeless performance he gave as the big red guy. It’s a sad farewell to the man who’s voice was a big part of my life, but I’m comforted by the fact that his legacy is secure, he lived a full life, and his voice will keep echoing in the heads of thousands upon thousands of fans, for years and years to come.
Spin:
When K.I.T.T destroyed K.A.R.R. in 1982, the voice did not die. When Voltron was defending the universe in 1984, the voice lived on for decades. When Optimus Prime lost his fight to Megatron in 1986, we still had Peter Cullen. Thanos snapped his fingers in 2018, and we watched actors pass away in a movie scene. Within a few days during 2026, it was described by someone as feeling like Thanos snapping his fingers in real life. We have lost many of the voices we loved. Dolly Parton, a voice from our parents generation. Tim Curry, a voice between generations, and now Peter Cullen, the voice of our generation.
Many of us as children would run home after school to hear the words “Autobots, Transform and Roll Out”. A phrase that’s been said countless times from 1984 to this day, in the calm, gentle, yet commanding voice that Peter delivered as Optimus Prime in almost every episode of Transformers during the 80’s. The voice that led the Autobots to victory in almost every battle against the Decepticons. For many, Optimus Prime was the father many wished they had. The voice that, no matter the situation, resolved things through conversations first, action second, and actions that were always respected. Even those against Optimus Prime respected him, and that respect was heard through Peter Cullen’s voice.
I unfortunately never had a chance to meet Mr. Cullen, but have always enjoyed hearing his voice from many of our favorite shows and cartoons growing up, and being able to hear his voice again in recent Transformers movies. Many have listened to Peter’s voice through video games, but a cool detail that some may not have known or forgotten was Peter narrating a series of Optimus Prime bedtime stories. A chance to listen to Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime tell stories about his Autobots in his calm relaxing to help you wind down for the day.
Peter Cullen was a fan of his fans, and always embraced them with his kindness and warmth as you could hear through his voice. He will be misse,d as the internet and social media has poured out their love they have for Peter, and with the 40th Anniversary of Transformers the Movie returning to theatres in September, it makes one wonder how the scene we all know will affect us this time around.
Till All Are One!
Michael Orlotti:
Very sad news to hear about the passing of Peter Cullen, the legendary Canadian voice actor who gave life to Optimus Prime. As a proud Canadian, I remember being excited when I first learned that the voice behind one of my childhood heroes was one of our own. Peter Cullen, best known as the voice of Optimus Prime, passed away at the age of 85 on August 26, 2026.
Growing up in an immigrant family where both of my parents worked around the clock, I spent a lot of time watching after-school and Saturday morning cartoons. In many ways, Optimus Prime became a father figure to me. Through his words and actions, he taught lessons that went far beyond cartoons. He taught respect, leadership, courage, and compassion. One message that always stayed with me was that all sentient beings have the right to live and be treated with dignity. That lesson helped shape how I view and treat others.
One of the highlights of my life as a Transformers fan was meeting Peter Cullen at TFcon. He was everything you hoped he would be. Kind, humble, patient, and a true gentleman. Despite being a legend to millions, he took the time to make every fan feel special. It’s hard to put into words how much of an impact a voice actor can have on a generation of kids. Peter Cullen was not just the voice of Optimus Prime. For many of us, he was the voice of wisdom, integrity, and doing the right thing when no one was watching.
Thank you, Peter Cullen, for the memories, the lessons, and the inspiration. You may be gone, but your voice and legacy will live on forever.
“Till all are one.” 
Rest in peace, Peter Cullen
Mr. Magnus:
Growing up, my parents both worked. My dad was always out of town or working til late, coming home to a shower and then bed. Mom worked the night shift as a nurse. So it was just me and my sisters. Optimus prime was the voice I always heard in my head as a conscience reminding me what was right and what was wrong. To strive, to be better, or to at least make my surroundings better than I found them.
Peter Cullen was more than just a voice. Me and my wife had the honor of meeting him at Fanboy Expo a few years ago, with Frank Welker and David Frank, too. Mr. Cullen was warm and very approachable, and when I handed him my OP prerub in the box, which was well played with, I remember him saying “Oh wow, this has been loved.” He noticed the whole end flap missing, and added, ”I mean, really loved.”
We both laughed, and I told him about my collection and the Children of Primus, and what he and OP ment to me growing up. He stood up and shook my hand and told me these words, “it’s important to pass on what we learn and feel, whether it’s a cartoon alien robot, or your most disliked teacher from school, everything before led you to where you are today. “
I’m so glad I got to meet him. You will be missed sir.
Autobots, Roll Out!
Toywarp:
Every time I have gone to a panel for Peter, so many men stand up, and are almost in tears as they confess that their own fathers were not around when they were kids, and that Optimus Prime, and Peter’s portrayal of him as a father figure was the closest thing they ever had to a dad.
My heart goes out to those fans, and the rest of the Transformers community as we deal with Peter Cullens loss. ‘Till all are one.
Chidren of Primus’s streams were taking a summer break, but we’ll be back this Sunday at 8PM EST, to talk about Mr. Cullen, and our memories of the man, and the characters he played.
