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Peter Cullen

Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, died on August 26 at age 85. His final performance as Optimus Prime appears in the 12-minute animated short Optimus Prime: Awakening, which plays with select screenings of the 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie.

Synthesized from 2 Yomimono stories · updated 2d ago

Peter Cullen, the voice actor who defined Optimus Prime across the Transformers franchise, died on August 26 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 85. His agent confirmed the death. Cullen also voiced characters in Voltron, Winnie the Pooh, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and the narrator in the anime IGPX.

Days after his death, the short Optimus Prime: Awakening was revealed. The 12-minute animated feature carries Cullen's final performance as Optimus Prime. Frank Welker voices Megatron and Soundwave. Josh Wassung directs from a script by Ryan Parrott, with music by Bobby Krlic and animation by The Third Floor. The short opens September 17 in ten new regions, playing with select anniversary screenings of the 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie.

The announcement gives the re-release a memorial dimension. Fathom Entertainment and Hasbro revealed the cast, staff, and additional screening regions for the short, which was previously announced. The pairing of the short with the 4K re-release marks a final on-screen appearance for the actor most associated with the role.

Key facts

Date of death
August 26, 2026
Age at death
85
Place of death
His home in Los Angeles
Final performance
Optimus Prime in Optimus Prime: Awakening
Short length
12 minutes
Director
Josh Wassung
Short opens
September 17 in ten new regions

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Connections

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Claim activity

When a claim about Peter Cullen was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed Peter Cullen voices Transformers 2d ago · source

All coverage

Sep 1

Optimus Prime: Awakening Short Reveals Cast, Staff, New Screening Regions

Fathom Entertainment and Hasbro revealed the cast, staff, and additional screening regions for the 12-minute Optimus Prime: Awakening animated short, which plays with select anniversary screenings of the 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie. Peter Cullen stars as Optimus Prime in his final performance, days after his death on August 26. Frank Welker voices Megatron and Soundwave. Josh Wassung directs from a script by Ryan Parrott, with music by Bobby Krlic and animation by The Third Floor. The short opens September 17 in ten new regions.

Aug 28

Transformers Voice Actor Peter Cullen Dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the voice actor best known as Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent. He was 85. Cullen also voiced characters in Voltron, Winnie the Pooh, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and the narrator in the anime IGPX.