Peter Cullen, the renowned voice actor known for his roles as Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh” and Optimus Prime in the “Transformers” series, has passed away at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed the sad news, stating that Cullen died at his residence in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Originally from Montreal, Cullen began his career in radio at CKGM before transitioning to television, where he served as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS from 1967 to 1969. He lent his voice to the iconic characters of King Kong in the 1976 remake and the monster in “Predator” in 1987.

Fans of the 1988-91 series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” may recognize Cullen as the voice of Eeyore. He reprised this role in various productions, including the 2002 film “Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.” However, his most notable portrayal was that of Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots in the Transformers franchise, a role he began in the early 1980s.

In 1986, Optimus Prime’s on-screen demise in “The Transformers: The Movie” sparked significant backlash among fans, leading to his resurrection in “The Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime” in 1987. Despite a hiatus from the character, Cullen returned to voice Optimus Prime in the 2007 film “Transformers,” directed by Michael Bay.

During the Calgary Comic Expo in 2015, Cullen shared how his brother Larry, a decorated U.S. Marine, inspired his portrayal of Optimus Prime by emphasizing that true heroism lies in being “strong enough to be gentle.” Following Cullen’s passing, his family highlighted this sentiment in a statement, urging fans to honor his legacy by embodying compassion, integrity, and loyalty and remembering to “Be strong enough to be gentle.”