Los Angeles, Aug 28: Legendary voice actor Peter Cullen, best known for providing the iconic voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, has died at the age of 85.

Cullen died on August 26 at his home in Los Angeles, his agent Kevin Motley confirmed. His family said he was surrounded by loved ones in his final moments.

Born on July 28, 1941, Cullen enjoyed a decades-long career spanning animation, television, films and video games. While he voiced numerous memorable characters, his portrayal of Optimus Prime made him one of the most recognisable voices in popular animation.

Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the original 1980s animated series The Transformers. His deep and commanding delivery helped define the Autobot leader and became an integral part of the character's identity.

After nearly two decades away from the role, Cullen returned as Optimus Prime for Michael Bay's 2007 live-action Transformers film. His return was widely appreciated by longtime fans, and he continued voicing the character in subsequent Transformers films, animated projects and video games.

Beyond Transformers, Cullen was also widely known for voicing Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh, among several other characters.

Following his death, fans and colleagues paid tribute to Cullen, remembering the distinctive voice that became part of the childhood memories of generations.

In a statement, Cullen's family urged people to honour his legacy by serving their communities and leading others with compassion, integrity and loyalty, while remembering his message to “be strong enough to be gentle.”