It is with great sadness that we learned on August 27 of the passing of Peter Cullen, the legendary voice of Optimus Prime since 1984.
The specialized news site TMZ was the first to reveal the news.
"Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and carried in the hearts of his many friends as well as countless fans around the world. His family invites you to honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and guiding others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, while always keeping in mind this motto: 'Be strong enough to be gentle.'"
While he voiced several major figures in pop culture, from Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh to the Predator in the first film of the saga, Optimus Prime remains his most significant role, the one that marked his life.
After voicing him in the original animated series from 1984 to 1987, he took up the mantle again in 2007 for Michael Bay's first live-action film. He continued to voice the leader of the Autobots in multiple series and video games: Transformers Prime, the War for Cybertron games, Devastation, and many others.
He was a major figure in our community and an admirable personality among fans at conventions. Many recount his kindness, attentiveness, and accessibility to Transformers enthusiasts.
On behalf of the entire Transforverse team, thank you for everything, Peter Cullen.
