Reflecting on the fascinating journey of Peter Cullen, I am simply astounded by the depth and breadth of his talent. From the iconic Optimus Prime to King Kong, his vocal chords have brought countless characters to life, captivating audiences worldwide.
Regardless of whether you’ve had a chance to see him in person, chances are good that you’ve heard Peter Cullen’s voice at least once in a film or TV show. This is because Cullen has been a prominent voice actor in Hollywood for over 50 years and has given voice to some of the most iconic characters in popular culture such as Optimus Prime from “Transformers.”
1984 marked the start of Peter Cullen voicing Optimus Prime in the initial animated “Transformers” series. Over the years, he continued lending his voice to the character across multiple TV shows. When Michael Bay brought Transformers to life on the big screen, Cullen returned to provide his distinctive voice once more, reprising the role he had originally helped create. Fans were thrilled to see that he remained in the part, as no one else took over from him.
Over many years in the entertainment industry, it’s astounding how much people remain unaware of the man behind the iconic voice. He’s been part of projects that many “Transformers” enthusiasts may not recognize, making him an enigma to some fans. Dive into a wealth of lesser-known facts about this man who brought Optimus Prime’s voice to life. Even if you weren’t a fan of “Transformers,” there’s a good chance his voice has reached your ears at one point or another — and his life story is nothing short of captivating.
He discovered his vocal talents growing up on a farm
Back in my childhood days, growing up on a farm in Montreal, Quebec wasn’t where I envisioned my career path leading. But little did I know that those days would shape me into the voice you recognize today, none other than Peter Cullen.
It’s safe to say that, at just eight years old, it wasn’t common for Cullen to have a clear roadmap of his future. However, Cullen eventually attended the National Theatre School of Canada and was part of its inaugural graduating class in 1963. Once he completed his studies, he started working in radio, and later found himself exploring television opportunities as they became available, ultimately contributing to the growth of his career.
Peter Cullen began acting in the 1960s
These days, Peter Cullen is celebrated for his exceptional vocal talents, but his professional journey didn’t commence within a recording studio. Instead, he embarked on his career in the realm of radio during the late ’60s, gracing shows like “Funny You Should Say That” on CBC Radio. Subsequently, he ventured into television acting, making appearances on the 1969 children’s series “The Buddies,” all while maintaining his role as a radio announcer during nights and weekends.
In this journey, I managed to break into on-screen acting with a toehold, all while polishing my voice skills on the radio. I popped up in various TV shows here and there from the late ’60s right through the ’70s. Some of my most memorable roles during that era were on “Comedy Café,” “Zut!,” and portraying numerous characters on “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.”
Over time, Cullen consistently secured one acting opportunity after another, eventually finding himself in high-profile television shows. For a couple of years, he served as the announcer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” and followed this with similar roles on “The Bobbie Gentry Show” and other comedies. This experience led him to voice characters, which ultimately became his main occupation.
Peter Cullen brought the Mogwai, King Kong, and Predator to life
You might recognize Peter Cullen’s voice from his work with “Transformers,” but that’s just one of many roles he’s voiced throughout his career. In fact, since the 1960s, Cullen’s voice has brought countless beloved characters to life on both big and small screens.
Throughout his career, Cullen voiced numerous characters on “Spider-Man,” “Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo,” “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” and many more. In addition to his animated work, Cullen has stepped into recording booths to voice some surprising live-action characters, including the Mogwai and Gremlins in “Gremlins.” He also provided vocalizations (and roars) for the 1976 remake of “King Kong,” though he was initially uncredited.
Among the unexpected characters that Ken Culley lent his voice to was the titular creature in the movie “Predator.” Although unaccredited, Culley gave the Predator its unique vocalizations through clicking sounds, which many were unaware shared the same source as the voice that brought Optimus Prime to life. Later, Culley reprised this role in the “Alien vs. Predator: Evolution” video game, voicing three distinct types of Predators and maintaining a similar tone to his portrayal in the 1987 film.
Believe it or not, Peter Cullen is Eeyore
For over five decades, Peter Cullen has been lending his voice to various projects. Interestingly, one role that might catch many off guard is Eeyore from “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.” Yes, you read that right – the gloomy donkey is voiced by the same talent who created the iconic sound of the Predator. Peter Cullen started voicing Eeyore on the show, which he worked on for 31 episodes from 1988 to 1991.
Disney found it difficult to find a new voice for Eeyore when the next “Winnie the Pooh” project arrived because Cullen had been voicing that character for several decades. In fact, Cullen worked on 42 different productions as Eeyore spanning over 29 years. More recently, he lent his voice to Eeyore in one episode of “Doc McStuffins,” but he’s also reprised the role in various movies such as “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” and others throughout his long career.
Beyond just the two types of media, Cullen has also lent his voice to Eeyore in the 2003 video game “Piglet’s Big Game”. In an interview with Collider, he even named this character as his second favorite to voice. He mentioned that he enjoys voices which are less demanding, like Eeyore, as opposed to ones that require a lot of shouting or exertion. However, when it comes to favorites outside of “Prime”, Eeyore takes the top spot.
He based Optimus Prime’s voice on his brother Larry
In 1984, Peter Cullen first lent his voice to Optimus Prime in the premiere of “The Transformers.” He shared with Collider that he modeled Optimus’s voice after his older brother Larry, a retired U.S. Marine Corps captain who had served in Vietnam.
Cullen shared with his sibling that he was trying out for a “hero truck,” but lacked further details. His brother then advised him, saying, “Peter, if you aim to be a true hero, be an authentic one. Avoid being like those fake Hollywood types; don’t act all tough and noisy. Instead, show your strength through kindness.” These words stayed with Cullen, so when he arrived at the audition, his brother’s wisdom echoed in his mind.
He got there and mimicked his brother’s voice, saying, “My name is Optimus Prime from the planet Cybertron, leader of the Autobots.” He then drove home to tell his brother how the audition went and told him, “Larry, it really went well, and I thank you … I just impersonated you.” Three weeks later, Cullen landed the job that would define his professional career for the next four decades.
He voiced Optimus Prime across 31 separate productions
As I stepped into the recording studio for what seemed like an ordinary gig, little did I know that I was about to bring Optimus Prime and the Transformers to life. Back then, I never imagined that a children’s cartoon would have such an enduring impact as “The Transformers.” If you take a look around, you’ll see that not many live-action movies based on other 80’s cartoons like “GoBots” have made it to the big screen. But hey, even I lent my voice to some “GoBots” characters too!
For decades, it has been “The Transformers” franchise that stands out as an unique intellectual property compared to others, with Peter Cullen providing the iconic voice of Optimus Prime across various television series, video games, and films. Starting with his role in the original animated movie “Transformers: The Movie,” he also voiced Prime in numerous shows from the 1980s. However, after the initial cartoon ended in 1987, there were no new Transformers properties for Cullen to work on for a period of 20 years. Yet, fans were thrilled and delighted when Cullen reprised his role for Michael Bay’s 2007 live-action “Transformers” film, and he has continued voicing Optimus Prime in numerous video games and every subsequent live-action Transformers movie since then.
In total, by 2023’s release of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”, Cullen has lent his voice to Optimus Prime in a grand total of 31 different projects, which encompasses 13 video games, six live-action films, and twelve television series.
Peter Cullen stopped voicing Optimus Prime because of Hasbro
Peter Cullen and Optimus Prime go together like James Earl Jones and Darth Vader, but while Cullen has lent his vocal talents to 31 different productions, he hasn’t voiced the character in every “Transformers” property. While he continues to voice Prime in the live-action film franchise, Cullen no longer performs the character on television.
As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed that when Hasbro decided to create “Transformers: Cyberverse,” they chose to work exclusively with non-union talent. After Peter Cullen stepped down, Jake Foushee was brought on board to voice Optimus Prime, and he has since lent his voice to the character in “Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy,” the “Transformers: Battlegrounds” video game, as well as the Netflix series, “Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy.”
At a convention in 2020, Cullen spoke about feeling replaced, using the term “grand theft” to describe this situation and criticizing Netflix for not employing union workers. He also expressed his disappointment that someone else would take over the role of Prime, and the audience showed their support by booing. Furthermore, he shared an instance where he was brought in for the “Bumblebee” movie after it initially cast another actor. In this case, Cullen had to mimic the previous actor’s facial expressions on screen to match the character’s mouth movements.
His hands are immortalized outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater
It’s clear as day that “The Transformers” has left an enduring mark on popular culture, extending far beyond its original comic books and TV series. Since then, this franchise has conquered various aspects of pop culture, such as a blockbuster movie series that’s amassed over $2 billion in worldwide box office earnings. That’s quite a sum from a series that originated in Marvel Comics and on weekend mornings on television.
Peter Cullen’s influence significantly shaped the franchise into the cultural juggernaut it stands as today. In recognition of his valuable work in cinema, Cullen was extended an invitation to the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles in 2014, where he left his handprints and signature in concrete outside the theater. This act serves as a lasting tribute to his name within the realm of filmmaking arts.
The handprint ceremony took place alongside the home video release of “Transformers: Age of Extinction”, providing an abundance of awe-inspiring movie props and models for showcasing Cullen’s remarkable contribution to the successful Transformers series.
Optimus Prime’s face was modeled off Cullen for Rise of the Beasts
If you recognize Optimus Prime, you’re aware that he’s quite a formidable character. However, there’s nothing in his physical traits that resembles Peter Cullen, which is reasonable since one is a colossal transforming robot and the other is a distinguished human performer. It’s true that animated characters often incorporate aspects of an actor’s likeness, but this isn’t typically the case for Optimus Prime.
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve always admired Optimus Prime from afar, but the transformation he underwent in “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” brought us closer than ever before. Unlike his previous iterations, the animators decided it was long overdue to pay tribute to the man behind Prime’s iconic voice. They modeled Optimus’ face after Cullen, a move that not only resonated with fans but also honored him in an extraordinary manner. This exciting revelation came from director Steven Caple Jr., who shared a side-by-side comparison on his social media platform, showcasing the striking similarity between the two.
Our director Steven Caple Jr CONFIRMS Optimus Prime’s FACE is BASED ON PETER CULLEN!
— Is Transformers: One out? (@TFHypeGuy) April 29, 2023
When examining Prime independently, there might be some ambiguity as to whether he mirrors Cullen; however, placing them side by side makes it evident. Prime sports facial characteristics that are subtly more akin to humans than previously shown, and he possesses an upper lip reminiscent of Cullen’s distinctive mustache.
Peter Cullen was one of the first humans inducted into the Transformers Hall of Fame
Peter Cullen has been recognized for his contributions to the “Transformers” series, an honor that includes leaving his handprints in concrete at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, as well as a host of other prestigious awards. Among these accolades are a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), and numerous others.
One of his significant milestones occurred in 2010 when he was inducted into the Transformers Hall of Fame, which was founded by Hasbro to recognize both the individuals behind the characters and the characters themselves. Cullen was one of the first humans to be honored in this esteemed group during the annual BotCon event held in Orlando, Florida, in May 2010.
Hasbro put together a remarkable welcome video, highlighting Cullen’s extensive portrayals, particularly his role as Optimus Prime. Alongside him, notable figures from the franchise such as Bob Budiansky (a comic book writer for Marvel), Yoke Hideaki (the lead project designer), and Kojin Ohno (a toy designer) were also recognized. In addition to these humans, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream, and Dinobot were also honored among the Transformers. The first inductees into the Transformers Hall of Fame will be remembered for their significant contributions and enduring impact on a franchise that has stood the test of time for decades.
He and Megatron get along splendidly
Over the course of his career as a voice actor, Peter Cullen has frequently teamed up with other actors. However, he’s had the most collaborative relationship with Frank Welker, who lends his voice to Megatron in “The Transformers.” If you’re familiar with “The Transformers,” you’ll recall that Megatron is the polar opposite of Optimus Prime, as their rivalry dates back to the series’ early days.
Similar to Cullen, Welker consistently portrayed his character across multiple productions, but he also lent his voice to various characters such as Soundwave, Wheelie, Rumble, among others. He even voiced Megatron in the live-action series, starting with “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” in 2009. Interestingly, despite playing adversaries on screen, Cullen and Welker are close friends and collaborated for the first time on “Mighty Man and Yukk” back in 1979.
At conventions, this duo frequently engages in Q&A sessions with fans, making for an entertaining experience as they trade voices between Prime and Megatron. In 2023, when Cullen was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children’s and Family Emmys, it was Welker who took the stage to introduce and present the award to Cullen – an honor that Welker himself received in 2016.
Voice acting nearly cost Cullen his vocal chords
As animators bring characters to life by giving them movement and form, voice artists breathe personality into these creations. Indeed, Peter Cullen has shown remarkable skill at imbuing various creatures and characters with their unique personas. However, just as other parts of the body can suffer wear and tear, so too can vocal cords, a fact that Cullen’s mother cautioned him about in the early stages of his career.
In the 1976 reboot of King Kong, Cullen gave the character his iconic roars. He shared with Collider that these intense vocalizations took a toll on his vocal cords: “I was coughing up blood due to the strain,” he reminisced. “Remarkably, just a few hours later, I had to perform as Optimus Prime. I’m still amazed I managed it, but it seems Optimus Prime sounded about one-and-a-half octaves higher than usual in that movie.”
Back when I was a sponge soaking up everything around me as a kid, my mom warned me, “Son, don’t mimic like this or you’ll damage your voice permanently!” Luckily, that didn’t come true. However, throughout my gaming career, I’ve always been careful to protect my vocal chords, learning from the strain I put on them while playing ‘King Kong.’
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2024-08-25 14:31