Peter Cullen

Peter Claver Cullen, born July 28, 1941, is an esteemed and extraordinarily talented Canadian voice actor. A hallmark in the animation industry, Cullen has lent his voice to numerous iconic characters including the heroic Optimus Prime in the original 1980s Transformers animated series and Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise. Notably, Cullen returned to his role as Optimus Prime in 2007 for the first live-action Transformers film and has since reprised the character in numerous subsequent media. His illustrious career also includes playing Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, KARR in Knight Rider and the title character in Predator. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Cullen graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963.

His career spans over numerous decades, starting in 1968 with appearances in comedy series and children's shows. One of his most endearing roles, Optimus Prime, was inspired by his brother, a former US Marine, who imparted the wisdom of being a 'real hero' rather than a 'Hollywood hero.' This piece of advice shaped Cullen's portrayal of the autobot leader. A testament to his exemplary work in the field of voice acting, Cullen was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2023. Cullen continues his passion for voice acting to this day in films, series, video games and trailers. He remains a symbol of dedication and passion in the voice acting industry.