Peter Cullen | |
|---|---|
 Cullen at the 2020GalaxyCon Richmond | |
| Born | Peter Claver Cullen (1941-07-28)July 28, 1941 (age 84) |
| Education | National Theatre School (BFA) |
| Occupation | Voice actor |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Molly Culver (daughter-in-law) Larry Cullen (brother) |
Peter Claver Cullen (born July 28, 1941) is a Canadian voice actor. He voicedOptimus Prime in the original 1980sTransformers animated series, later returning to the role inTransformers media in 2007, starting with the firstlive-action film.[1] He has also voiced many other characters across a wide variety of popular media, includingEeyore in theWinnie the Pooh franchise, Monterey Jack inChip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, the first voice ofKARR inKnight Rider and the vocalizations of the title character inPredator.
He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by theNational Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2023 as part of the2nd Children's and Family Emmy Awards.[2]
Cullen was born on July 28, 1941, inMontreal,Quebec, to American parents Henry and Muriel (née McCann) Cullen. He is ofIrish descent. He has three siblings: Michaela, Sonny, and Larry. He is a member of the first graduating class of theNational Theatre School of Canada, which he graduated in 1963.[3] His brother, Larry Cullen, was a retired captain in theUnited States Marine Corps, and helped inspire the voice of Optimus Prime.[4]
In 1968, he andJoan Stuart appeared as "Giles" and "Penelope" inL'Anglaise, a recurring segment about a French-Canadian man with an English-Canadian wife, on theCBC Radio comedy series,Funny You Should Say That.
Cullen played a French-Canadian astronaut character named Commander Bi Bi Latuque alongsideTed Zeigler for the 1969 children's show,The Buddies onCFCF-TV in Montreal.[5] He honed his voice skills by working as a radio announcer, notably in his home town of Montreal on (then) MOR station CKGM doing the overnight and weekend swing shifts. From 1967 to 1969, he was the announcer forThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
From 1971 to 1974, he, Zeigler, andBilly Van were series regulars onThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. In 1974, Cullen was the announcer and a series regular alongside Zeigler and Van onThe Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show. He lent his voice to a character in the album "The Story of Halloween Horror" in 1977.
Cullen recalls auditioning for the role of the robot characterOptimus Prime at a casting house inBurbank, California, explaining that as he read Prime's character breakdown, he saw that it was "the opportunity of the year", and heeded his brother Larry's advice: "Peter, don't be a Hollywood hero, be a real hero. Real heroes don't yell and act tough; they're tough enough to be gentle, so control yourself."[4][6] Cullen later learned from his agent, Steve Tisherman, that he not only won the part of Prime, but also, to his surprise, the role of Ironhide as well, which he saw as a "home run".[4]
He has stated that Optimus is his favorite voice role, and that he based the voice of theAutobot leader on his older brother Larry, who served inVietnam. "When he came home, I could see a change. He was quieter and he was a man and a superhero to me," says the actor. "I watched him and listened to him. I'd never had an opportunity to do a superhero, and when that came, [that voice] just came right out of me and I sounded like Optimus."[7]
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He has also stated that he had no idea of Prime's popularity until the character's controversial death in the1986 animated film, because the studio had never given him fan letters from children addressed to Optimus. The public backlash over Optimus's death surprised producers greatly. Children were leaving the theaters distraught because of the character's death. The writers temporarily revived the character for a single episode in Season 3 called "Dark Awakening". Initially, this was intended to be his final appearance, but after fan requests continued, "The Return of Optimus Prime", a two-part episode was produced. The original ending of "Dark Awakening" was altered in reruns to include a teaser about the return of the character, and indeed, Optimus returned once and for all to lead the Autobots for the final five episodes of the original American cartoon series.[citation needed]
Cullen reprised the role of Optimus Prime in the 2007Transformers live-action film, the sequelsRevenge of the Fallen,Dark of the Moon,Age of Extinction andThe Last Knight, the reboot and its sequel,Bumblebee[8] andRise of the Beasts and the video games based on the film series. Though he was only contractually obligated to voice Optimus up toThe Last Knight,[6] producerLorenzo di Bonaventura stated in 2021 that Cullen was welcome to voice the character for as long as he wanted.[9]
Cullen again reprised his role as Optimus Prime in the video gamesTransformers: War for Cybertron,Transformers: Fall of Cybertron andTransformers: Devastation, and in the television seriesTransformers: Rescue Bots,Transformers: Prime andTransformers: Robots in Disguise. His performance in the premiere season ofTransformers: Prime earned him a nomination for a2011 Daytime Emmy Award in theOutstanding Performer in an Animated Program category.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Cullen appeared on a number of television shows. He has played Coran, Stride the Tiger Fighter, and King Alfor in theLionVoltron series, the transforming spaceship/robot Ramrod, the heroic Commander Eagle and the villainous Nemesis in the 1980sanime seriesSaber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, Commander James Hawkins in theVehicleVoltron series,Eeyore in theWinnie the Pooh franchise, the original voice ofKARR inKnight Rider, Antor and Bomba, and Gunner, inDino-Riders,Airborne,Zandar and Nemesis Enforcer inG.I. Joe. He played Mantor/Mantys in Coleco's 5 episode mini-seriesSectaurs in 1986; Red Skull in the 1981 cartoon series ofSpider-Man, Klaar and Zanzoar inMegas XLR and Mantus inThe Pirates of Dark Water. He also had a voice part in the 1984 motion pictureGremlins (as a gremlin) and in the first season of the2008Knight Rider series, where he reprised his vocal role as KARR (from the originalKnight Rider series). He also did voicework inThe Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible series, notably asJapheth, one of Noah's sons in the "Noah's Ark" episode, and the King ofNineveh in the "Jonah" episode. He was well known by some as the main villain Venger in the animated series ofDungeons & Dragons. He played the evil sorcerer Renwick inLittle Wizards and Cindarr inVisionaries: Knights of the Magical Light.
Among many other television series and films, he has also lent hisbasso voice to manyfilm trailers and television commercials, including announcing for theToonami andYou Are Here blocks on theCartoon Network. Cullen spent some of his early professional years in Montreal as a radio announcer/DJ onCKGM; and as a character in a then-popular local television kids show. He acted the role of a French-Canadian astronaut, along with writer and his partner on the show, Ted Ziegler. Both Ziegler and Cullen were in the supporting cast ofThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, as well as other network comedies of the era.
He voicedNintendo's mascotMario in theDonkey Kong segments on the 1983–1984 TV seriesSaturday Supercade, making him the first person to ever provide a voice for the character in western media.[10]
Cullen has done voicework ondrum and bass DJDieselboy's 2004 album,The Dungeonmaster's Guide, and narration on the 2013 albumTetragrammaton by the Dutch extreme metal band The Monolith Deathcult.Tetragrammaton also featured Cullen on bass in "God's Among Insects."[11] Additionally, he did voicework for the unreleasedBlizzard Entertainment gameWarcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans,[12] and provided narration for theStar Wars fan film series I.M.P.S.: The Relentless.[13]
Cullen is a voice announcer onPolice Story 4: First Strike in advertisements forNew Line Cinema, lending his experience as an ex-cop for the Santa Monica division to the cast.[14]
He has also done voice work for promotions of the 1999 filmThe Iron Giant.[citation needed] In 2023, he joined season 2 ofAmazon OriginalsInvincible series.
Cullen has four children: Clay,[15] Angus, Claire, and Pilar, and three grandchildren. He is a good friend of his longtimeTransformers co-star and fellow voice actorFrank Welker, in contrast to the rivalry of their respective characters, Optimus Prime andMegatron.[16]
Cullen is a devoted fan and supporter ofNASA, citing theApollo 11 Moon landing in 1969 as the start of his interest.[17][18] As such, he sees the interaction between Optimus Prime andBuzz Aldrin inDark of the Moon as one of his proudest moments.
AtBotCon 2010, Hasbro named Cullen as one of the first four human inductees in the Transformers Hall of Fame for his role as the voice of Optimus Prime.[19]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–68 | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | Announcer | |
| 1974 | The Bobbie Gentry Show | ||
| 1979 | Mighty Man and Yukk | Brandon Brewster / Mighty Man | |
| Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo | Additional Voices | ||
| 1981 | The Kwicky Koala Show | Bristletooth | |
| The Smurfs | Additional Voices | ||
| Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends | Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk,Mysterio,Red Skull | 2 episodes | |
| 1982 | The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour | Lucky | |
| Spider-Man | Red Skull, Stuntman, Jack Riven | ||
| Meatballs & Spaghetti | Additional Voices | ||
| Pac-Man | Sour Puss | ||
| The Little Rascals | Officer Ed, Pete the Pup | ||
| Knight Rider | K.A.R.R. | 1st voice; Episode: "Trust Doesn't Rust" | |
| 1983 | Monchhichis | Shreeker, Snitchitt, Gonker | |
| The Puppy's Further Adventures | Lucky | ||
| The Biskitts | Dog Foot, Fang, Scratch | ||
| Saturday Supercade | Mario | [10] | |
| The Dukes | Additional Voices | ||
| 1983–85 | Mister T | Additional Voices | |
| Dungeons & Dragons | Venger | ||
| 1984 | Dragon's Lair | Bertram | |
| Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats | Additional Voices | ||
| Snorks | Additional Voices | ||
| Voltron: Defender of the Universe | Coran, King Alfor, Narrator | ||
| 1984–86 | Rainbow Brite | Murky Dismal | |
| 1984–85 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | Additional Voices | |
| Lucky Luke | English dub | ||
| 1984–87 | The Transformers | Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Streetwise, Wingspan, Slugslinger, Nightstick | |
| 1985 | The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo | Maldor the Malevolent | |
| Challenge of the GoBots | Spoiler, Tank, Pincher | ||
| The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians | Felix Faust | Episode: "Brainchild/The Case of the Stolen Super Powers" | |
| 1985–86 | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero | Airborne, Ramar,Zandar | |
| 1985–87 | The Jetsons | Additional Voices | |
| 1986 | MoonDreamers | Igon, Various characters | Episode: "Zodies on the Loose" |
| Rambo: The Force of Freedom | Sergeant Havoc | ||
| Muppet Babies | Sor-Elbow, Smoggy the Bear, Football Bear | Episode: "Fozzie's Family Tree" | |
| Ghostbusters | Eddie Spenser Jr., Eddie Spenser Sr., Haunter, Floatzart | ||
| Pound Puppies | Captain Slaughter | 4 episodes | |
| The New Adventures of Jonny Quest | Patch | Episode: "Peril of the Reptilian" | |
| Foofur | Baby the Rat, Vinnie the Cat | ||
| My Little Pony | Captain Crabnasty | Episode: "Fugitive Flowers" | |
| 1987–88 | BraveStarr | Dr. Whiston, Dr. Watson, Hack | |
| DuckTales | Admiral Grimitz, Bankjob Beagle, Mad Dog McGirk, Lessdred | ||
| 1987 | The Little Wizards | Renwick, Various characters | |
| The Real Ghostbusters | Doctor Destructo, Police Officer | Episode: "Captain Steel Saves the Day" | |
| Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light | Cindarr | ||
| 1987–89 | Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs | Commander Eagle, Narrator, Nemesis | |
| 1988 | Dino-Riders | Gunner, Antor, Bomba | Episode: "Toro Toro Torosaurus" |
| The Wonderful World of Disney | The Sorcerer | Episode: "Mickey's 60th Birthday" | |
| 1988–89 | The New Yogi Bear Show | Ranger Roubideux | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Smash, Mugger, Napoleon | ||
| 1988–91 | The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Eeyore | |
| 1988–90 | Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears | Kerwin the Conqueror, Gritty | |
| 1989 | Rude Dog and the Dweebs | Herman, Winston | |
| 1989–90 | Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers | Monterey Jack, additional voices | |
| 1990 | TaleSpin | Additional Voices | Episode: "It Came from Beneath the Sea Duck" |
| 1990–93 | Tom & Jerry Kids | Additional Voices | |
| 1990–92 | Tiny Toon Adventures | Additional Voices | |
| 1990–91 | Widget the World Watcher | Bob the Poacher, Rooney Kangaroo, Gdunu | |
| 1991–93 | The Pirates of Dark Water | Mantus | |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Abominable Snowman, Mackey McSlime | |
| 1994 | Hardball | Fox Announcer | Episode: "Lee's Bad, Bad Day" |
| 1996 | Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh | Eeyore | |
| 1998–present | The Magical World of Walt Disney | ||
| 2001 | House of Mouse | ||
| 2001–02 | The Book of Pooh | ||
| 2004–05 | Megas XLR | Zanzoar, Klaar | |
| 2005–06 | IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix | Narrator | |
| 2007–10 | My Friends Tigger & Pooh | Eeyore | |
| 2009 | Knight Rider | K.A.R.R. | Episode: "Knight in King's Pawn" |
| Bizarre Dinosaurs | Narrator | ||
| 2010–13 | Transformers: Prime | Optimus Prime / Orion Pax, Nemesis Prime, Vehicon | |
| 2011–16 | Transformers: Rescue Bots | Optimus Prime | |
| 2014 | 2014 Kids' Choice Awards | ||
| 2015–17 | Transformers: Robots in Disguise | ||
| 2017 | Doc McStuffins | Eeyore | Episode: "Into the Hundred Acre Wood" |
| 2017–18 | Transformers: Titans Return | Optimus Prime | |
| 2018 | The Toys That Made Us | Himself Optimus Prime | |
| Transformers: Power of the Primes | Optimus Prime | ||
| 2019 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Yōkai Councillor #1 | 3 episodes |
| 2023–present | Invincible | Thaedus | |
| 2024 | The Masked Singer | Optimus Prime | Episode: Transformers Night |
| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Piglet's Big Game | Eeyore |
| 2007 | Transformers: The Game | Optimus Prime |
| Transformers Autobots | ||
| 2009 | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | |
| Transformers Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots | ||
| 2010 | Transformers: War for Cybertron | |
| Transformers: Cybertron Adventures | ||
| 2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | |
| 2012 | Transformers: Fall of Cybertron | |
| 2012 | Transformers: Prime – The Game | |
| 2014 | Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark | |
| 2015 | Transformers: Devastation | |
| 2016 | Transformers: Earth Wars | |
| 2016 | Disney Magical World 2 | Eeyore |
| 2019 | Crystal Crisis | Narrator |
| 2023 | Fortnite Battle Royale | Optimus Prime |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Eeyore | |
| 2011 | Transformers: The Ride 3D | Optimus Prime |
| Year | Award | Category | Film/TV Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Transformers Prime | Nominated |
| 2023 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | — | Won |
| Preceded by | Voice ofEeyore 1988–present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by None | Voice ofOptimus Prime 1984–1988 Original series andanimated film | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2007 Video game andlive-action film | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by David Kaye 2007–2009 Animated | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2009 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2010–2013 Transformers: Prime | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2012–2016 Transformers: Rescue Bots | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2014 Transformers: Age of Extinction | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2015–2017 Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2017 Transformers: The Last Knight | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2017–2018 Transformers: Titans Return | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2018 Transformers: Power of the Primes | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by none | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2018 Bumblebee (film) | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by None | Voice ofOptimus Prime 2023 Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by none | Voice of Ironhide Original series and animated film 1984–1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by None | Voice ofMario 1983–1984 Saturday Supercade | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by None | Voice ofKARR 1982 Knight Rider episode "Trust Doesn't Rust" | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Paul Frees 1984 Knight Rider episode "K.I.T.T. vs. K.A.R.R." | Voice of KARR 2009 Knight Rider episode "Knight to King's Pawn" | Succeeded by None |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
