Voice actor Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" film series, has died. He was 85.
According to ABC News in the United States on the 27th (local time), Cullen died the day before at his home in Los Angeles, California.
In a statement, the bereaved family said, "Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his beloved family," adding, "He will be remembered forever in the hearts of countless friends and fans around the world."
Born in Montreal, Canada, in 1941, Cullen entered broadcasting as a radio announcer, then moved to Hollywood in 1967 and began voice acting.
His signature work is "Transformers." Starting in 1984, Cullen played Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, in the animated series "Transformers."
When Optimus Prime died in the 1986 installment, fan backlash grew so intense that the producers brought the character back the following year, a measure of his popularity.
He also voiced Optimus Prime in director Michael Bay's 2007 live-action film "Transformers." He continued in the role in subsequent sequels and the spinoff "Bumblebee," as well as the TV animation "Transformers: Prime."
Cullen also voiced Eeyore in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," which aired from 1988 to 1991, and worked on about 200 films and animated projects.