Peter Cullen

Peter Claver Cullen (born July 28, 1941) is a Canadian voice actor. He is best known as the original voice of Optimus Prime (as well as Ironhide) in the original 1980s Transformers animated series and Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise. Starting in 2007, Peter Cullen has reprised his role as Optimus Prime in all Transformers related media, starting with the first live-action film.Transformers Prime at the Internet Movie Database
==Early life==
Cullen was born in Montreal, Quebec to Henry L. Cullen and Muriel McCann. He is a member of the first graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada, which graduated in 1963.All Our Alumni, National Theatre School of Canada His brother, Larry Cullen, was a retired Captain in the United States Marine Corps, and helped inspire the voice of Optimus Prime. His sister, Michaela Tomlinson, is married to Frank Tomlinson, and has been supportive from the beginning.
==Career==
===1960s–1970s===
In 1968, he appeared as Giles with Joan Stuart as 'Penelope' in L'Anglaise, a CBC sitcom about a French-Canadian husband with an English-Canadian wife (CBC's Funny You Should Say That). He also performed a French-Canadian astronaut character named Bebe LaToque alongside Ted Zeigler for a 1969 children's show on CFCF-TV in Montreal.
From 1967 to 1969, he was the announcer for Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In 1974, Cullen was a series regular and the announcer on The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show.
===As Optimus Prime===
Cullen recalls auditioning for the role of the robot Optimus Prime at a casting house in Burbank, 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 are tough enough to be gentle, so control yourself." 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".
He has stated that Optimus is his favorite voice role, and that he based the voice of the Autobot leader on his older brother Larry, who served in Vietnam. "When he came home, I could see a change. He was quieter and he was a man and a hero 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."Nguyen, Hanh. "Prime Time: Cullen's 'Transformers' Resurrection", Zap2It, 7 November 2006.
He has also stated that he had no idea of Prime's popularity until the character's controversial death in the 1986 animated film, as the studio had never given him fan letters from children addressed to Optimus. The public backlash over Optimus' death surprised producers greatly. Children were leaving the theaters 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.
Cullen reprised the role of Optimus Prime in the 2007 Transformers live-action film, and its sequels Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Transformers: Dark of the Moon and the games based on them. He
originally had a short cameo in Revenge of the Fallen, but this was eventually removed from the final cut.
Cullen again reprised his role as Optimus Prime in the video game Transformers: War for Cybertron, its sequel game Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and in the recent television series Transformers: Prime in 2010. His performance in the premiere season of Transformers: Prime earned him a nomination for a 2011 Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program category.
===Other work===
In the 1980s and the 1990s, Cullen appeared on a number of television shows. He has played Coran, Stride the Tiger Fighter, and King Alfor in the Lion Voltron series, the transforming spaceship/robot Ramrod in the 1980s anime series Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, Commander James Hawkins in the Vehicle Voltron series, Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh series, KARR in Knight Rider, Antor and Bomba, and Gunner, in Dino-Riders, Airbourne, Nemesis Enforcer and Zandar in G.I. Joe, He played "Mantor/Mantys" in Coleco's 5 episode mini-series Sectaurs in 1986; Red Skull in the 1981 cartoon series of Spider-Man, Klaar and Zanzoar in Megas XLR and Mantus in The Pirates of Dark Water. He also had a voice part in the 1984 motion picture Gremlins, as a gremlin, and the first season of the 2008 Knight Rider Series as KARR. He also did voicework in The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible series, notably as Japheth, one of Noah's sons in the Noah's Ark episode, and the King of Nineveh in the Jonah episode. He was well known by some as the main villain Venger in the animated series of Dungeons and Dragons. He played the evil sorcerer Renwick in the lesser known series Little Wizards and played Cindarr in the short-lived series Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light.
Among many other television series and films, he has also lent his basso voice to many film trailers and television commercials, including announcing for the Toonami and You Are Here blocks on the Cartoon Network. Cullen spent some of his early professional years in Montreal as a radio announcer/DJ on CKGM; 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 spotted in the credits and doing small cameo walk-ons in various comedic roles on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, as well as other network comedies of the era.
He voiced Nintendo's mascot Mario in the Donkey Kong segments on Saturday Supercade, making him the first person to ever provide a voice for the character.
Cullen has done voicework on drum and bass DJ Dieselboy's 2004 album, The Dungeonmaster's Guide, and narration on the 2013 album Tetragrammaton by the Dutch extreme metal band The Monolith Deathcult.Review of Tetragrammaton by The Monolith Deathcult, Metal-fi.com He also did voicework for the unreleased Blizzard Entertainment game Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans,Blizzard Entertainment, Coming Soon Magazine] and provided narration for the Star Wars fan film series I.M.P.S.: The Relentless.
==Honors==
At BotCon 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.
==Personal life==
Cullen has three children: Angus, Claire, Pilar and three grandchildren. Also, he has three siblings: Michaela, Sonny, and Larry.Peter Cullen at NNDB; accessed 20 June 2011.
==Filmography==
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1962–63 	The Jetsons 	Additional voices 	
1967 	The Buddies 	Commander Bi Bi Latuque 	
1967–68 	The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour 	Announcer 	
1969 	Comedy Cafe 	 	
1970–71 	Zut! 	 	
1971–74 	The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour 	HimselfVarious characters 	
1974 	The Bobbie Gentry Show 	Announcer 	
1974 	The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show 	Himself 	
1974 	The Sonny Comedy Revue 	HimselfVarious characters 	
1975 	Down Home Country 	Luke Warm 	
1976 	The Wolfman Jack Show 	 	
1979 	The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show 	Mighty Man 	
1979 	Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo 	Additional voices 	
1981 	The Kwicky Koala Show 	 	
1981 	The Smurfs 	Additional voices 	
1981 	Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends 	HulkMysterio 	
1982 	The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour 	Lucky 	
1982 	Spider-Man 	Red Skull 	
1982 	Meatballs and Spaghetti 	 	
1982 	Pac-Man 	Sour Puss 	
1982 	The Little Rascals 	Officer EdPete the Pup 	
1982 	Knight Rider 	K.A.R.R. 	
1983 	Monchhichis 	ShreekerSnitchittGonker 	
1983 	The Puppy's Further Adventures 	Lucky 	
1983 	The Biskitts 	Dog FootFangScratch 	
1983 	Saturday Supercade 	Mario 	
1983 	The Dukes 	Additional voices 	
1983–85 	Dungeons & Dragons 	Venger 	
1984 	Dragon's Lair 	Bertram 	
1984 	Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats 	Additional voices 	
1984 	Snorks 	Additional voices 	
1984–86 	Rainbow Brite 	Murky Dismal 	
1984–85 	Alvin and the Chipmunks 	Additional voices 	
1984–87 	The Transformers 	Optimus PrimeIronhide 	
1984 	Voltron: Defender of the Universe 	CoranKing AlforNarrator 	
1984 	Three's a Crowd 	Sports AnnouncerAirline Captain 	Episode 1.6: "Vacation from Sex"Episode 1.8: "The Honeymooners"
1985 	The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo 	Maldor the Malevolent 	
1985 	Challenge of the GoBots 	SpoilerTankPincher 	
1985 	Muppet Babies 	Additional voices 	Episode 2.3: "Fozzie's Last Laugh"
1985 	The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians	Felix Faust 	Episode 1.6: "Brainchild/The Case of the Stolen Super Powers"
1985–86 	G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 	AirborneRamarZandar 	
1986 	MoonDreamers 	IgonVarious characters 	Episode 1.14: "Zodies on the Loose"
1986 	Rambo: The Force of Freedom 	Sergeant Havoc 	
1986 	Ghostbusters 	Eddie Spenser, Jr. 	
1986 	Pound Puppies 	Captain Slaughter 	Episode 1.7: "In Pups We trust"Episode 1.8: "The Captain and the Cats"Episode 1.10: "Wagga Wagga"Episode 1.11: "The Star Pup"
1986 	The New Adventures of Jonny Quest 	Patch 	Episode 1.1: "Peril of the Reptilian"
1986 	Foofur 	Baby 	
1986 	My Little Pony 	Captain Crabnasty 	Episode: "Fugitive Flowers"
1987–88 	BraveStarr 	Dr. WhistonDr. WatsonHack 	
1987–88 	DuckTales 	Admiral GrimitzBankjob BeagleMad Dog McGirkLessdred	
1987 	The Little Wizards 	RenwickVarious characters 	
1987 	The Real Ghostbusters 	Doctor DestructoPolice Officer 	Episode 2.4: "Captain Steel Saves the Day"
1987 	Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light	Cindarr 	
1987–89 	Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs 	Commander EagleNarratorNemesis 	
1988 	Dino-Riders 	GunnerAntorBomba 	Episode 1.5: "Toro Toro Torosaurus"
1988–91 	The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 	Eeyore 	
1988–90 	Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears 	Kerwin the ConquerorGritty 	
1988–89 	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 	SmashMuggerNapoleon 	
1989 	Rude Dog and the Dweebs 	HermanWinston 	
1989–90 	Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 	Monterey Jack (Season 1) Additional voices 	Jim Cummings took over the role of Monterey Jack in Season 2
1990 	TaleSpin 	Additional voices 	Episode 1.6: "It Came from Beneath the Sea Duck"
1990–93 	Tom & Jerry Kids 	Additional voices 	
1990–91 	Widget the World Watcher 	Bob the PoacherRooney KangarooGdunu 	
1991–93 	The Pirates of Dark Water 	Mantus 	
1991 	In Living Color 	 	Episode 2.26: "Dickie Peterson: Cherub of Justice"
1993 	Bonkers 	Abominable SnowmanMackey McSlime 	
1994 	Hardball 	Fox Announcer 	Episode 1.6: "Lee's Bad, Bad Day"
1996 	Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh 	Eeyore 	
2001–02 	House of Mouse 	Eeyore 	
2004–05 	Megas XLR 	ZanzoarKlaar 	
2005–06 	IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix 	Narrator 	Episode 1.1: "Time to Shine"
2007–10 	My Friends Tigger & Pooh 	Eeyore 	
2009 	Knight Rider 	K.A.R.R. 	
2009 	"Bizarre dinosaurs" 	narrator 	
2010–2013 	Transformers: Prime 	Optimus PrimeVehicon-(In Episode 'Thirst') 	Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program
2012–present	Transformers: Rescue Bots 	Optimus Prime 	
2013–present	Sofia the First 	TBA 	voice role in production season 2
===Film===
Year	Title 	Role
1970	Prologue 	Allen
1976	King Kong 	King Kong (voice only)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074751/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
1982	Heidi's Song 	Gruffle
1983	Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls 	Big Blue
1984	Voyage of the Rock Aliens 	1359
1984	Gallavants 	Antonim
1984	Gremlins 	MogwaiGremlins
1985	Robotix 	
1985	Bigfoot and the Muscle Machines 	Arthur Ravenscroft
1985	Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer 	Murky DismalCastle MonsterGlitterbotGuardSkydancerSlurthie
1986	Voltron: Fleet of Doom 	Commander James HawkinsCoranKing AlforNarrator
1986	Heathcliff: The Movie 	
1986	GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords 	PincherTombstoneStones
1986	My Little Pony: The Movie 	GrundleAhgg
1986	The Transformers: The Movie 	Optimus PrimeIronhide
1987	G.I. Joe: The Movie 	ZandarNemesis EnforcerScientist
1988	Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears 	Ranger Roubideux
1988	Rockin' with Judy Jetson 	GruffCommander ComsatBouncer
1989	Vytor: The Starfire Champion 	MyzorChief Eldor
1991	The Little Engine That Could 	Pete, The Cave (voice)
1994	The Story of Christmas 	Ox (voice)
1995	"Batman Forever" 	Trailer announcer
1997	"Batman & Robin" 	Trailer announcer
1997	"Jackie Chan's First Strike" 	Trailer Announcer
1997	Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin 	Eeyore
1999	Seasons of Giving 	Eeyore
2000	The Tigger Movie 	Eeyore
2001	Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse	Eeyore
2002	A Very Merry Pooh Year 	Eeyore
2003	Piglet's Big Movie 	Eeyore
2004	Springtime with Roo 	Eeyore
2005	Pooh's Heffalump Movie 	Eeyore
2005	Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie 	Eeyore
2007	Transformers 	Optimus Prime
2008	Super Sleuth Christmas Movie 	Eeyore
2009	Tigger and Pooh and a Musical Too 	Eeyore
2009	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 	Optimus Prime
2011	Transformers: Dark of the Moon 	Optimus Prime
2013	Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters - Predacons Rising 	Optimus Prime
2014	Transformers: Age of Extinction 	Optimus Prime
|2017
|Transformers: The Last Knight
|}
===Video Games===
Year	Title 	Role
2003	Piglets Big Game 	Eeyore
2007	Transformers: The Game 	Optimus Prime
2007	Transformers Autobots 	Optimus Prime
2009	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 	Optimus Prime
2009	Transformers Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots	Optimus Prime
2010	Transformers: War for Cybertron 	Optimus Prime
2011	Transformers: Dark of the Moon 	Optimus Prime
2012	Transformers: Fall of Cybertron 	Optimus Prime
2012	Transformers: Prime – The Game 	Optimus Prime
===Rides===
Year	Title 	Role
2011	Transformers: The Ride	Optimus Prime
==Awards and nominations received by Peter Cullen==
Year	Award 	Category 	Film/TV Show 	Result
2010	Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Screen Couple (shared with Shia LaBeouf and either Megan Fox or any "Transformer")	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen	
2011	Daytime Emmy Awards 	Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program 	Transformers Prime 	
2012	Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Screen Ensemble (shared with the entire cast) 	Transformers: Dark of the Moon 	
==References==
==External links==
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Category:1941 births
Category:Living people
Category:Male actors from Montreal
Category:Anglophone Quebec people
Category:Canadian expatriate actors in the United States
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:National Theatre School of Canada alumni