Peter Cullen: Voice of Transformers hero Optimus Prime has died

Peter Cullen has died. His voice was familiar to millions of people, thanks in part to his voice acting as the popular "Transformers" leader Optimus Prime. According to multiple media reports, he died at his home in Los Angeles, as stated by his agent, Kevin Motley. No further details regarding the circumstances of his death were provided. Cullen was 85 years old.

TMZ has received a statement from the family. It reads:

"Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember 'be strong enough to be gentle.'"

Special sound effects in Predator

Over the course of his decades-long career, Cullen provided the voices for numerous characters in various films and series. For the big screen, he also voiced the sounds of King Kong in the 1976 remake, among other roles. In the 1987 film "Predator", he was responsible for the eerie clicking sounds coming from the monster's mouth. Most recently, he took on a recurring role in the superhero animated series "Invincible" as the voice of the character Thaedus.

However, no role was as closely associated with the Canadian, born in 1941, as that of Optimus Prime. He first lent his voice to the "Transformers" hero in the 1980s animated series. And he could also be heard as Optimus Prime in the later feature film adaptations about the alien robots, most of which were directed by Michael Bay.

He drew inspiration from his brother for the voice of Optimus Prime

According to Variety, he was inspired by his brother Larry when approaching the voice acting for Optimus Prime. Larry was a Marine Corps veteran who had served in Vietnam and whom Cullen admired. According to Variety, he told the Reading Eagle in 2008:

"It was his tone of voice and delivery as a leader, his control that impressed me, and I applied my brother's attitude to life to Optimus Prime. It just rang a bell, and I was cast in that part. I guess people somehow picked up on that. There's a calmness to Optimus Prime, and yet a gentility and strength and honor and dignity, that are synonymous with the Marines."

For the many fans of Optimus Prime – some of whom were already sitting in front of the TV in the '80s, listening to the heroic "Transformers" leader – Peter Cullen's voice will remain unforgettable.