There are a few voices that just can’t be separated from their characters. Hulk’s screams will always be Lou Ferrigno, C-3PO will always be Anthony Daniels, and Optimus Prime will always be Peter Cullen. The longtime voice actor was behind a number of recognizable characters, including King Kong, the Predator, and Eeyore, but for many fans, he will always be Optimus Prime.
Cullen recently passed away at the age of 85, so let’s take a look back at one of his most affecting performances of the robot in disguise — one that shows how crucial his character was to the franchise as a whole.
