Peter Cullen Interview: Creating the Voice of Optimus Prime, Predator & More

Before Transformers: Rise of the Beasts opened in theaters, Collider and IMAX offered fans in Los Angeles the opportunity to see the film early. Partnering with Paramount Pictures, we invited readers to check out director Steven Caple Jr.’s entry to the live-action Autobot universe that Michael Bay’s Transformers kicked off in 2007, but this screening had a very special, very esteemed guest. Following the movie, Editor-in-chief Steve Weintraub sat down with the voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen.
Whether Transformers or pop culture, in general, brought you here, if you’re reading this, you’ve heard Cullen’s voice. The Emmy nominee has lent his talent to numerous iconic characters, including the loveably melancholic Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh as well as conceiving and performing the unmistakable clicks of the franchise apex, Predator. In Rise of the Beasts, Cullen reprises arguably the most notable voice of them all as Optimus Prime, often the golden voice of reason among his fellow Autobots. When hearing the Transformer’s booming, “Autobots, roll out,” alongside co-stars Liza Koshy, Pete Davidson, Ron Perlman, and Michelle Yeoh, it’s easy to imagine it’s edited to sound so majestic. At the screening, we found out that - and many other voices and sounds - come so naturally to Cullen.
During the Q&A, Cullen reflects back on his career, all the way back to the first sounds he learned and the first voices he mimicked, a talent that, at the time, landed him in hot water. He shares the difficulties of voice acting, which character is his favorite to do - besides Optimus - and the origins of the Predator’s noises. Cullen also tells the emotional and personal story of how he found the legendary voice of the leader of the Autobots, what it was like to work with Bay and Caple Jr., and talks about how the job has changed since the ‘80s. Check out all of this and more in the video or transcript below.
#petercullen #optimusprime #transformers
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[@optimascrime5235]

Every Transfomers fan knows a version of this story but it's always nice to hear it again

[@XanderHowell3]

Can we agree Transformers wouldn't have been this successful without Peter Cullen behind the voice of Optimus Prime

[@optimascrime5235]

@@XanderHowell3 Same with Frank Welker as Megatron....And also Beats wars saved transformers in the 90s and Transfomers 2007 brought transformers back into the mainstream so thanks to those as well

[@Doflamingos_lawyer]

Wasn't he on a job interview? And his brother sent him a letter and Peter saw it as optimus primes voice as a message as I remember

[@jollama]

*hear

[@optimascrime5235]

@@jollama Oh yeah, didn't realise until now lol

[@Nightsight971]

Peter Cullen IS Optimus Prime. If anyone ever asks me who I consider a second father, it is the Optimus character (Cullen). I was only 11 in 1984, my parents were divorced and I was living with mom. Prime made me feel safe and he offered this kid great advice on how to act and behave. I really must try to meet Cullen at a convention soon, he is 81 now. Love ya Peter !!!

[@MrPomelo555]

Exactly the same story for me. Same feeling.

[@lawrencekin02]

I'll be having massive goosebumps if I ever do see Peter Cullen in person. The man is a true legend and everyone loves him for his phenomenal work as the voice of Optimus Prime.

[@billywhite6703]

Peter Cullen is my favorite Voice actor of all time... period

[@FakeJake5843]

Same

[@BATJAX]

Greatest voice of all time.

[@Silky_Chan]

YEAAAAHHHHHHH

[@FakeJake5843]

Facts

[@GiratinasRisingRenegades]

Cullen has the voice of a true leader. I hope he'll live up to continuing his voice over as Optimus Prime until this new Hasbro Cinematic Universe reaches its end because no one can do the voice of the autobot leader better than him.

[@chasehedges6775]

One of the legends of all time

[@themastrelmatadordelmar544]

finally peter getting the credits and attention he deserves

[@CIorox_BIeach]

I think the reason Optimus came out so damn good because he's based on a real person, and the creator knew the guy personally.

[@bradcalhoun8976]

Bayverse Optimus Prime is the most Epic Version. It’s ironic that you mentioned that your brother was a Marine. So Optimus turning into a marine on the battlefield in the Bayverse is on point. Revenge of the Fallen “I RISE…..YOU FALL!” Is SO SPOT ON! Dark of the Moon “You didn’t betray me, You betrayed Yourself!” Now this most recent one with Rise of the Beast is a bit off brand, but if I were to ask you a question, it would be, which of the Bayverse films was your favorite ON BRAND OPTIMUS PRIME?

[@felynecomrade]

Bumblebee and Rise get major points from me for keeping to his original design. In terms of personality, it's definitely bayverse 1-3. In 4 he became TOO violent and aggressive. I always saw Optimus Prime as a wise warrior, someone who was good at fighting and killing, but never enjoyed it.

[@KHeisig75]

Great stuff! A 'gremlin' in the Sonny & Cher show to Predator, Peter Cullen gave us the gift of his brother who shall now live forever as one of the best archetypal hero on screen, Optimus Prime! Thanks!

[@ShadeTheArcade]

RIP Captain Larry Cullen

[@botbee2316]

My personal hero. Living legend I aspire to become.

[@TitaniumPrimeOFFICIAL]

Peter’s been doing his Prime voice for so long that he kinda sounds like a goofy (in a good way) version of Optimus

[@Silky_Chan]

peter cullen is so awsome if it wernt for transformers i wouldnt be here love you peter cullen

[@miked1190]

I love hearing him tell that story every time I hear it. He does alot of great characters and I like them all but, Optimus has always been my favorite

[@jsociety4964]

I met him in Sacramento once at an event it was such a huge honor

[@callofdutymobilelegend1325]

Optimus prime Aka Peter cullen❤❤❤

[@rahulgunwal3097]

Legendary legend soul of a prime ❤

[@ailoncapistrano5749]

Thank you Sir Peter Cullen for giving life and character to my childhood hero Optimus Prime.

[@brentashworth]

I don't think Peter Cullen will ever understand that for many of us, people who came from homes without fathers or with negletful fathers, Optimus Prime was a father figure we could not only look up to, but showed us that authority figures did not have to be bullies and traits like kindness and gentleness were not sources of weakness but could be great fonts of strength. Thank you forever Mr. Cullen.

[@allanatkins9376]

Meeting this man’s man would be a tremendous honor I am as millions of others a true die hard fan I always LOVED AND WANTED TO BE OPTIMUS PRIME as a kid even as a man. We will never see a true legend like this ever and thank you Larry for being you without you there would be no Optimus

[@memesworld2243]

No one can replace him ever..

[@mikemudra5489]

Just listening to him talk is just amazing he's a true legend once it comes to voice acting and there's no one who can do Optimus like Peter can he imbodies the character and is the greatest he's a great comedian as well this guy should be considered as one of the best voice actors ever I put him on as my # 1 on my list of voice actors. If there's a mount Rushmore of voice actors he should be on there next too Mel Blanc, Jim Cummings, Robin Willams, and Frank Welker those guys are on my list of favorite voice actors and those are on my Mount Rushmore list of voice actors. Peter Cullen is a great guy and he seems to be fun to be around.

[@parsman9914]

Legend

[@TaryTheTRex]

My name is Optimus prime and this message is to Peter Cullen

[@the_Spartan_117]

Nothing but respect for this legend ✊.

[@steelstreet3765]

I hope peter know how much his fans love him 😢

[@mohanicus]

I'm an 80's kid and I grew up with transformers and prime was always a big hero of mine and still is....Mr Cullen nailed his character absolutely perfectly and his voice as prime is absolutely sublime

[@garyyoung4654]

Absolute Legend Peter love from all of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Razzmatazz_NY]

Love you Peter❤️

[@FakeJake5843]

He doesn’t play Optimus prime anymore, he is Optimus prime

[@LegoPalpy]

there is a thin line between being a hero and being a memory

[@itzyvee8443]

Wish the crowd was cheering more he deserves it 🙌🏽

[@darkwingderp2335]

A truly wonderful voice actor. I always knew about Eeyore because I was a big fan of Disney's The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh but not Predator. Nice.

[@MrPhenom444]

Honestly Academy… honor this man with a Honoree Oscar while he’s still with us! He deserves it

[@CrazyNerdSarah]

I got to meet Peter and Frank a few years ago. Some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.

[@dombak0531]

The greatest voice actor of all time! Peter is just amazing! ❤💙

[@AdrielDoesGaming]

Peter Cullen is such a legend!

[@cosmicvoid6202]

Literally, the voice of a generation.

[@delightonailende620]

Far as I'm concerned Peter Cullen will always be Optimus Prime. Anybody doesn't even come close to his ankles.

[@AmberTheFangirl]

Yes! Defo gonna sit down and watch this

[@King_Shockwave_]

Is my idol I hope one day I will meet him❤😢

[@garthdavis4320]

I love it when Peter does the voice.

[@American-fd9ol]

True legend

[@jeffreyseay7707]

At the beginning of the video it seemed he's getting old it's horrifying. But I'm not worried. Even after he's gone TFG1 will live on forever in the hearts of fans, many of whom may not even be born until then

[@Ed-X7]

God bless you Peter, you blessed my childhood with the best show of all time ❤

[@novustalks7525]

How do voice actors keep going when they're destroying their throats and bleeding from certain roles?

[@milenarinaldi2128]

Happy birthday Mr Cullen 🎉🎂🎊🎁we will always love you and you always be the one and only Optimus prime.🤖❤.Take care 🙏and happy birthday again🎁

[@bryanyoung9966]

I had no idea he did Predator. 🤩 So cool.

[@Harbinger1985]

Yeah, if you watch credits like I do I noticed this way: 'Special Vocal Effects by Peter Cullen'.

[@AussieKitKat]

Peter's about to pop a blood vessel if he has to explain how he got the part for Optimus Prime one more time

[@sambuvca22]

He does it all well, But my brows dont raise till i hear OPTIMUS PRIME. Guess im just a old school 1984 3rd grader

[@leonite934]

And I'm gonna meet him on Sunday😆😆😆😅

[@arrryan55]

Danm... bro u could have shown him a LOT more love instead of just asking him questions......

[@SamanthamusPrimeV28050]

I wonder how Peter Cullen is doing, also, I wonder how he would react to a character named David Cullen, whom is directly inspired by him.

[@danielarnold8902]

Is the same Peter Cullen from the Razzle Dazzle Show?

[@julieblalack4461]

Peter Cullen YES I MARRIED YOU JULIE HORIZON

[@CDyer_BK2NJ]

Interviewer had no connection with Peter. So many ways to react off of his story, and it just went flat and quiet. Peter seemed so open, too. Unfortunately awkward all around.

[@hannahwalters3602]

This was so cool to watch! Thank you for sharing! If you’re reading this I hope you have a great day and know. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV

[@GeekOwtLowd]

Who are we kidding... Michael Bay is still back-seat directing all the Transformers movies. And that's why we'll never get a full-feature TRUE G1 Transformers movie like they teased in Bumblebee's opening. Bumblebee is always going to be a mute puppydog and Optimus will be there to carry the film, and every other character will be bastardized and/or expendable... except for the obnoxious humans.