Hollywood right now is going through a string of deaths of iconic stars. First, it was Dolly Parton, the legendary queen of country music who gave countless hits and entertained with her magical voice for decades. Just a day after that, we had to say goodbye to Tim Curry, the beloved actor-singer who gave us several memorable characters like Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise. And now, on the third consecutive day, another legend departs, leaving a giant hole behind. 

Peter Cullen, who is famous for voicing some of the most recognizable characters, like Optimus Prime from Transformers and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, has sadly passed away at the age of 85.

The Hollywood veteran, most recognized for using his voice to bring the courageous Autobot leader to life, has passed on to the other side at the age of 85. According to the TMZ report, he was at home with his family, and they asked everyone to keep in mind the legacy he leaves behind.

“Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family – and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide,” his family said in the statement.

“His family asks that you honor his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle.” the statement further said.

The Canadian voice actor is well known for his parts as Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, starting with the original 1980s animated TV series. After that, he came back to voice the part in the Michael Bay films. He also provided the voice of Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, a series that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. 

He made a comeback for The Tigger Movie in 2000 and numerous other films, such as Pooh's Heffalump Movie in 2005. In addition, he voiced Mario in the 1980s animated Donkey Kong series. Thaedus in Invincible and The Predator in the Predator films are some of his other famous credits. 

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The sudden passing of Peter Cullen does bring up a question in the minds of fans regarding the cause of his death.

Peter Cullen’s cause of death is still not publicly revealed. However, he was facing some health issues recently, which led to convention cancellations. Reports also noted that he previously dealt with significant health challenges, including treatment for stage 4 prostate cancer. But he was cleared for that post-surgery and radiation.

The most probable cause for now seems to be old age. Anything else would be revealed only after some time, when the family had time to process the recent events. Cullen is survived by his four children -  Clay, Angus, Claire, and Pilar - as well as his three grandchildren. Fans have been flocking to the internet to express their grief over his passing, especially at a time when Hollywood is losing its brightest stars left and right.

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Which of his famous characters is your favorite? Do let us know.