Peter Cullen, the acclaimed voice actor best known for bringing to life Optimus Prime in the 1980s “Transformers” animated series and Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, has died at the age of 85. Cullen passed away Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his agent, Kevin Motley.

Cullen’s family released a statement urging the public to honor his legacy by embodying compassion, integrity, and leadership, echoing Cullen’s own words to “be strong enough to be gentle.”

Over a career spanning several decades, Cullen lent his voice to numerous television series, specials, and films. He began as an announcer on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” in the late 1960s and appeared in comedy sketches for Sonny & Cher. His extensive voiceover work included characters in “The Smurfs” and various “G.I. Joe” adaptations.

However, Cullen’s portrayal of Optimus Prime became his defining role. The original “Transformers” cartoon aired from 1984 to 1987 but made a lasting impact on popular culture, leading to a toy line, spin-off cartoons, comic books, and eventually a major live-action film franchise launched by Michael Bay in 2007.

Before his audition for Optimus Prime, Cullen was told only that the character was a truck, which he found fitting given the unusual roles often required in animation voice work. When he learned the character was a heroic Autobot who transformed into a red cabover semitrailer, Cullen drew inspiration from his older brother Larry, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Vietnam War. Cullen described Larry as his hero and the inspiration behind his vocal performance, saying the memory of his brother lives on in every iteration of Optimus Prime he performed.

Cullen’s contributions helped shape generations of animated storytelling and extended the reach of beloved characters that remain influential decades after their creation.