Peter Cullen, iconic voice of Optimus Prime, dies at 85

Peter Cullen, the iconic voice behind Optimus Prime in Transformers and gloomy Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, has died.

He was 85.

His agent, Kevin Motley, told The Hollywood Reporter that the Canadian actor passed away at his home in Los Angeles.

In a statement, Cullen's family said, "He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family — and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide."

The actor's family also asked fans to remember his legacy.

"They ask 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 read.

Born in Montreat, Cullen first voiced the Autobot leader in the animated series Transformers, which ran from 1984 to 1987.

He described his initial response to the Optimus Prime role as puzzling.

Telling NPR in 2014, he said, “I auditioned like everybody else. I was told it was a hero, and I was told it was a truck.”

However, Cullen has a personal reference for voicing Optimus Prime: his brother.

He served in Vietnam as a decorated U.S. Marine.

“When he came home, I could see a change. He was quieter and he was a man and a superhero to me,” he shared in 2006.

“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.”

Cullen left behind four children.