Voice Actor, Peter Cullen Dies At 85
HOLLYWOOD—On August 26, voice actor, Peter Cullen died at his home in Southern California at the age of 85. He was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. The sound of his voice would take him to Universal City, California.
For decades, he was the sound of characters with the Smothers Brothers, appearances on Sonny and Cher, to G.I. Joe, and “Transformers” robot, Optimus Prime. He was the voice of Eeyore, Walt Disney’s gloomiest donkey from Winnie the Pooh.
Over the years, he’d tell his interviewers of the awesome moment he discovered his voice talent. He was an 8-year-old boy, in the barn and made a loud noise getting the attention of all the cows at the farm. Cullen received tons of fan mail that Hasbro did not share. He is credited with over 200 voices and acting credits.
He was one of the first actors inducted into the Hasbro Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program. In December 2023, Cullen was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
“If you do something you love, that’s what I tell kids, if you find something you love to do, do it, stick with it, and you’ll never work a day in your life. You love it, it’s just a holiday,” Cullen stated his advice during a 2023 interview.
Cullen is survived by his wife, Brandi Cullen and their four children; Clay, Angus, Claire, and Pilar E. Cullen and three grandchildren.
The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery – Hollywood Hills Hall of Liberty.
By Sharon