When Optimus Prime Died, Voice Actor Peter Cullen "Hated It"

Transformers Generation One voice actor Peter Cullen talks about the moment that he found out Optimus Prime was to be killed off in Transformers The Movie.

[@kyledamron]

I really wish they would make an Optimus Prime movie like the Bumblebee movie before we lose Peter, he is the only voice of Prime for me

[@ochosigod5417]

Facta when he dies so does transformers

[@ulty1472]

The only puesdo second prime is Gary Chulk because ummm well "That's just Prime"

[@sixela2268]

@@ulty1472 he might be a good choice as a holder for the matrix, but he could never replace the magic

[@skylavivian8271]

Exactly. Someone else may be able to play Optimus but they will never be able to replace or be the best Optimus Prime voice actor, Peter Cullan. Peter Cullen, was THE BEST!

[@zitro3022]

FACTS

[@fan1701]

I was one of those kids that felt totally destroyed at the death of Optimus Prime.

[@mrg466]

...and what about the other characters that died?

[@DiscoRaptor]

@@mrg466... I was trashed at them all. Aside from Bumblebee literally all my favourites were wiped out in one movie. Seeing Ironhide, Rachet, Brawn and Prowl getting taken out right at the start destroyed me! I think I even cried when Galvatron kills Starscream!

[@mrg466]

@@DiscoRaptor well it's maybe tough to take as a child, but otherwise, they were at war, therefore realistic,...but the shuttle attack scene was the worse part of the movie! Even if they plained deaths for those characters,...you mean to tell me, not even one Autobot could get even one good hit in? Laser shots firing everywhere,... even Ratchet looked cool firing away,...yet nobody got in a single hit! Really bad writing there in my opinion!

[@rumble-roses]

Thumb ups only because I agree and feel ya.

[@mrg466]

@@rumble-roses Prime's death scene was at least heroic! The other Autobots death scenes,...were just pathetic!

[@D2Kprime]

Optimus Prime was a father-figure to many kids from the 1980s. His death hurt as much as losing a loved one for real. Clearly Hasbro did not have a grasp on the weight these characters had on their fans and no appreciation for the hard work of all the voice talent to take an idea on a page and breath life into it. All they cared about is selling toys. The whole point of the cartoon for them was for the show to be one-long toy-commercial. Well.........we saw that worked out for them.

[@daren42]

I'm 41 and still crying

[@gtaylor2455]

Still it was an important lesson. That is the cost of being a hero. That is the cost one pays to save their friends. Its very traditional storytelling telling if only by accident. Kids these days dont get the reality of death in their stories and they are worse off for it.

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

Come on, grunts. I am an 83 year old dude who is still alive and yet crying cause of my fear of losing my friend Catie because she is having trouble and I can't find the right person to cure her of her trouble which the trouble is Cold Hard Heart Syndrome and it is an extremely rare health condition that only affects 1 out of millions of people who get bullied by others(most including kids who go to offline Schools such as Lowell and Julia De Burgos).... and my friend Catie got Cold Hard Heart Syndrome but she is also suffering from Epilepsy which is another common health problem... and yet I still can't find a right perfect person to cure her of Cold Hard Heart Syndrome. I am just having difficulties of finding someone for my friend Catie... 😭😭😭😭

[@mr.t8355]

Prime was definitely that other parent for us as kids a true selfless hero.

[@sh7sh175]

@@LarryMoonlink3892 what does this have to do with the comment

[@alfonsonation]

This man was, is, and always will be an icon. Not just for his voice, but for his dedication to this franchise. Meeting Peter Cullen is at the top of my bucket list. We will never see his like again.

[@fabianrocha9924]

A true man amongst men, if there ever was one.

[@phenry197634]

Agree on all points!

[@zitro3022]

The Alfonso Nation FACTS

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

If Peter Cullen's life does expire, I will be hugging both Catie Bowman and Frank Welker till we are happy and remember Peter Cullen as a best voice actor and a good guy and other happy things that Peter Cullen did. Basically Remember what Peter Cullen did good for us all. So we would try to be happy till we all deal with the ends of our roads cause life doesn't go as you expect it to go sometimes your life expires in a short time or long time depending on things and differences and whatever. So yeah KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH!

[@robstar18]

The Alfonso Nation met him today, he was great

[@michaelmahabir213]

Optimus Prime is the reason why I have an interest in the Transformers franchise as a whole.

[@elaigamiao7527]

And the old g1 characters such as:jazz,hound,wheel jack,ironhide,ratchet,and otimus,bumblebee,skyfire/jetfire,sideswipe,arcre,eleta 1 starscream,megatron,shockwave,soundwave and the other casets,devastator,galvatron

[@skylavivian8271]

For me it was Optimus and the whole G1 cartoon Season One and Two. Season Three not very much...

[@skylavivian8271]

@@LarryMoonlink3892 No I do not believe it!

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

@@skylavivian8271 ok... but is it shocking?.....

[@matthewreynoso6904]

Micheal Mahabir Same here he's the Sonic to his Sonic the Hedgehog!

[@MetroXLR99]

1:58 Peter Cullen saying: "I'm getting WHACKED" just made my day. Makes me want a "Transformers Noir" cartoon, now.

[@ajshim]

Hey now, there's an idea. A detective themed transformers who talks like a 1920's or 1930's noir detective with the mannerisms to boot.

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

Now that is a mixture of 2 different show franchises there! A mixture of Transformers and Miraculous! *LOL*

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

I think?.....

[@johnbreighner5852]

2:16 Peter Cullen saying: "I'm not comin' back" just made my day

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

@@johnbreighner5852do you know why people still believe that I am dead when I am actually still alive????? *growls* WHY DO PEOPLE NOT NOTICE ME? IS IT BECAUSE I AM NOT FAMOUS AS MY BROTHER PETER CULLEN?!?!? I AM ACTUALLY STILL ALIVE THOUGH THOSE PEOPLE SAID THAT I WAS DEAD!!

[@Speculativedude]

"I'm gonna be the best acting dying guy in the world!" Well Mr. Cullen, sir, you did it!!

[@amirrashidan3047]

He did it a bit too well in fact, so much that kids got traumatized.

[@ursidae97]

​@@amirrashidan3047I get why, but I'm a little sad he and Hasbro consider that a failure. I think it was damn perfect. I think given how harrowing it is it may even be wholesome that down to the last month he's assuring them that hope is not lost and he has faith in his found family that they will win this war.

[@fabianrocha9924]

Funny fact about the G1 Episode The Core: Optimus Prime's last lines in this episode - "The future is built on dreams" - is notable as Peter Cullen's words of encouragement to a young fan of Optimus Prime in real life, dying of a terminal illness. To this day, when interviewed about this line, Cullen will invariably be moved to tears by its memory.

[@skylavivian8271]

Dying of a terminal illness?

[@CertainlyCaro]

@@skylavivian8271 The young fan was terminally ill

[@skylavivian8271]

@@CertainlyCaro I still don't understand? You need to go into detail.

[@CertainlyCaro]

@@skylavivian8271 I'm not sure if this is sarcasm. If not what isn't being understood

[@skylavivian8271]

@@CertainlyCaro This is sarcasm. And I don't understand any of this comment. I need you to go into better detail.

[@maddestmike5791]

We all hated when Optimus Prime died.

[@mrg466]

Yeah, but people act like he was the only character that died,... what about the others?

[@quirkyeggmuffin]

Mr G Right? Optimus Prime’s death was a true yanking on your heart strings scene. But the deaths of all the other characters I came to love hurt just as badly. I seriously want to watch that movie again but I just can’t because I don’t want to witness them being blow to smithereens again :(

[@ClemmyHunter]

Hated? I was 6 yrs old and went into a depression

[@mrg466]

@@quirkyeggmuffin I really don't know why so many was surprised about Prime dying, the commercials for the toys gave it away before the movie even came out! For awhile, when Ultra Magnus was introduced, they kept saying that he was 2nd in command, then all of a sudden, the commercials started saying, that Rodimus Prime was the new leader, therefore, I wasn't surprised when it happened. The only thing that confused me was,...why didn't Ultra Magnus take over. But anyhow, go ahead and watch the movie, ...as far as I'm concerned, it's the only true Transformers movie, Michael Bay, doesn't count!

[@mrg466]

@@ClemmyHunter Be glad, when I was six, my aunt took my cousin and I, on our 6 year old birthday, to see The Exorcist! Although I'm grown now, ...I will never watch that movie, ever again!

[@sideswipe8443]

Just the purest man ever, really.

[@fabianrocha9924]

A true man amongst men, if there ever was one.

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

Oh boy. I know this might be weird to say but I do admit that I had basically inspired Peter Cullen to do Optimus Prime's voice. *true story told* basically Peter Cullen is my brother and he really did become the purest gentle person after I told him to be strong enough to be gentle. Yet he became honest as well, maybe Honesty does come with gentleness.

[@nightlypiano4116]

He's Optimus' Pretender Shell and you can't convince me otherwise.

[@grimlock8155]

@@nightlypiano4116 ok... what is my life now????..... A crazy as a junkie type of karen accused me of pedophilia because I was buying stuff for babies because my brother Larry is pregnant... then got into a fight and I didn't fight back but then George FireMoon came in and fought for me but got himself injured very badly and he was still alive even though he was stabbed in the chest 100 times. Then he yeets the Karen to the moon after a lot of fighting and then George FireMoon healed himself and me... I knew George FireMoon has dark skin and the karen had the same skin color as me and then I said "you are a racist shrimp!" Then George FireMoon literally had to use a lot of the fighring skills he had learned from his job training since he's a cop but his rank is Junior... so he's an inexperienced cop.... Then I got everything done and got home with the stuff I bought.

[@nightlypiano4116]

@@grimlock8155 uh...

[@MrGojira95]

This hurts even more when you know about the whole Bumblebee movie and the Netflix WFC conundrum.

[@bootstrapphoenix6456]

I know this is an old comment, but what happened?

[@kobyrne6634]

@@bootstrapphoenix6456 There's interviews with Cullen that explain it. But in summary, for WFC Peter and Frank Welker weren't hired because they were union actors and netflix was looking to save money. And in the Bumblebee movie they hired a non-union actor to do the recordings that they animated around, and Peter was brought in for one day to dub over this other guy who had mimicked him, again, a studio trying to save money.

[@yamiatemyugi]

His "pages turning" sound effect is just too funny.

[@johnbreighner5852]

LOL!

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

It kinda sounded like Peter Cullen was getting his tongue Twisted while voicing a character. But IT WAS STILL FUNNY INCLUDING THE CAR PAYMENTS JOKE! *LOL* sorry for the capslock but I was too excited and that's why I screamed in capslock..

[@mrg466]

@@LarryMoonlink3892 Oh so that's how people darken the text, .. thanks, and knowing is half the battle (only us much older kids will get that reference, ..but just a hint to you youngin's ... it's a G.I. Joe quote,.. even Peter was a part of that voice acting crew too back in those good ole days)!

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

@@mrg466 yep. True. The * symbols with words between them with no space makes them bold colored. Ok?

[@mrg466]

@@LarryMoonlink3892 ok got to try it, in fact why not *now* ... thanks!

[@KingSnuggelo]

After meeting him in person, I can say that Peter Cullen is 100% the real deal. He is Optimus Prime. I just can't bear the thought of losing him. Please, the dark powers that pull the strings of the world, give Peter at least 20 more years with us so that he can see and be a part of the proper Optimus Prime movie/movies.

[@randallguzik3764]

Prime's death changed not only Transformers forever, but GI Joe and cartoons and toys as a whole. Toy companies now had to realize that kids drive the market, and if the kids don't want the toys...parents aren't going to spend their money. Transformers:G1 didn't really recover from this until much later. I remember on a Friday in August of 1986 watching the episode with Krmzyke...the movie coming out and on Monday the 5 Faces of Darkness with none of the characters I knew except Grimlock..but instead of being a cool rebel he was a comedy act. I felt numb that every character I cared about was gone. Losing Prime and Starscream hurt the show badly. The new characters were generic and boring. The only episode I truly enjoyed was the Return of Optimus Prime.

[@oscarburton3817]

I totally agree with you it took me a while for the new crew to grow on me but after a while I started really liking it and I loved the headmasters i thought they were pretty cool 😎

[@xdestron]

Everything after the movie straight up sucks

[@killerkamen1183]

My father was the reason I love Transformers so much - people call me kind of obsessed - and he wasn’t a good figure to me. But when I was a kid, and I first saw Optimus Prime, I felt like I was loved and I had a father. Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are important people in my life and they don’t even know it. They raised me as Optimus Prime and Megatron. When Optimus died I think I died a little too - but then I brought him back and I remember crying for weeks out of relief.

[@thekagawalife2081]

I love how Peter takes a drink of water before he answers the question. It’s gonna be a long one for his throat, that’s for sure.

[@mrg466]

His throat, is his career after all!

[@catiebowman7031]

@@mrg466 isn't using your throat for your career a beatboxer thing too?... I mean, Beatboxers make music with their throats... though.... soo...

[@Egobyte83]

I gotta believe that it must have felt like a big middle finger in the face for Peter on so many levels when he found out that Prime was gonna get axed: 1. It was a paying job that was taken from him. 2. I can imagine generally growing fond of a character who you have played for two years and set a great example for kids, being a paragon of good and well-liked. 3. With the voice that Peter chose for him, Prime was an idealized version of his own brother, whom he loved very much, making the character even more emotionally significant to him.

[@GrandmasterDevo]

I saw the episode "Dark Awakening" before I saw the movie, so I knew what was coming. But that scene still upset me! Kudos both to Peter Cullen and the folks who composed the music for that scene.

[@TFcon]

Vince DiCola composed the music. We've got some videos on the channel with him as well. Check them out if you're interested. Vince is also well known for composing the music on the Staying Alive and Rocky IV soundtracks!

[@davidrodgers2784]

I was 7 yrs old n cried when Optimus died. But he fell with honor. I knew THE MOMENT Hot Rod caught the Matrix, he was worthy. I have always wondered myself about that very set of Q&A. Thank you, Mr. Peter Cullen.

[@Davethe3rd]

Except Hot Rod wasn't worthy. He spent all of Season 3 whining about being leader and tried to give the Matrix back to a Zombie Optimus Prime at the first opportunity! Ultra Magnus was a better leader than Rodimus was..

[@BP7684]

@@Davethe3rd One small problem. While Ultra Magnus was fully capable of being the new leader, he didn't want it either, feeling that he wasn't worthy.

[@ochosigod5417]

I was with you untill you said hotrod was worthy.I hated him then and i still hate em

[@jbird7782]

Dave, whodahelldidnt cry?

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

I miss my brother Peter Cullen... yet I am pregnant with Frank Welker's child but also I have a crush on Frank Welker...... what should I do? I am only 8 weeks into the pregnancy...

[@plexx365]

I remember watching his death the first time and I was beyond devastated. Optimus Prime was my father figure when I grew up because I never saw my father, he worked all the time. My morals are all based on Optimus'. The worst part was when they brought him back to kill him again. It opened old wounds and I got depressed AGAIN. Optimus will forever be the father I never had.

[@mrnashman2627]

I just want to meet him sooo bad 😭

[@Shaf11_8]

We all do

[@ironhideg1735]

My (adoptive) mom wants to meet Peter Cullen and Frank Welker in person but she can't afford the tickets nor the trip there since she's poor, close to the verge of homelessness but her friend's friend Connnie came in and saved my mom from becoming homeless... *my mom is Catherine Jane Bowman, A 14 year old American girl who suffers from Epilepsy and is a dangerously protective bad girl and she prefers to be called Catie by others but I call her mom. My sister Andrea Bowman does the same thing, call Catie Bowman mom although Catie Bowman is the leader of the Auto-Con Factory and its workers. But hey, life is life. Our mom basically saved us from homelessness since we were homeless because of our biological parents abusing us and Catie Bowman had been bullied in traditional schools and abused in FosterCare a long time ago but last week, she rescued us despite her age being 10 years older than me and my sister. Yes, me and my sister are both 4 year olds and we're twins, obviously.... so Catie Bowman is white but she's not a racist, but also, Connie is an offspring of a mixed race family. Connie acts like a aunt to us although she's 10 years older than Catie, Connie is 24 years old and she's helping Catie Bowman financially and other ways of helping... my (adoptive) mom's family died on her 14th birthday which it already passed since it is on Janaury 11th... and so, My mom is basically an orphan. Who killed my mom's parents? You may ask, well, the current US President killed Catie Bowman's biological family members... yes, it was Donald Trump the Cursed Orange Corn Cob... yes, I roasted Donald Trump because he is a jerk... he basically deserved it.*

[@gob7029]

@@ironhideg1735 we don't care

[@galvatronbayverse816]

@@gob7029 child abuse is something to care about... ok? If you think that you shouldn't give a dart about any kid who is being abused by their parents, it just means you are a supporter of the child abuse crimes... Now by saying that you don't care, it just proves that you like to support abusive parents... It is nonsense to say that child abuse is ok... you understand that? Learn facts from a cop like me... ok?...

[@bumblebeeg1868]

@@gob7029 No One would care for you if you were a victim of some sort of psychical assault crime. If you act like that. Andrew Bowman was telling a true, sad story about himself and if you say "we don't care" to a storyteller because you felt like it was "unnecessary" then it shows that *YOU* have no empathy or any feeling of being sorry for the storyteller if the storyteller is telling you or anyone a story of their negative past... even if it wasn't your fault!...

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

The "Car Payments" joke was silly enough that I laughed my head off. LOL. 😂🤣

[@matthew_natividad]

I’d say insurance

[@LarryMoonlink3892]

@@matthew_natividad ok.

[@big_m9306]

I always get close to crying when optimus dies but peter was the greatest dying person ever 😂

[@jvaliente9094]

Omg. Not only his voice is so good , but his personality also . Salute to this very humble man :)

[@camerongerdes824]

I cried when Optimus died in the movie, it was so heartbreaking.

[@jayj2987]

My mom was PISSED when optimus died. She knew..... She knew. I cried when he died, mind you I seen this in the theater. My mom was soooo cool the rest of the day. Pizza hut and pepsi and letting me stay up late. I wouldn't be surprised if she wrote a letter to Hasbro. Seeing that movie even though it shocked me is one of the best memories I have. Because it showed that my mom had a heart and really cared.

[@azadzeeman1243]

Great lady!!

[@alejandrovarela4332]

W mom

[@anumeon]

The moment that you realize that Peter Cullen could be a great casting choice for Disney if they ever wanted to make an older Tony Stark in the marvel movieverse.. I mean, he could so be an older, Wiser Robert Downey Jr with that mustache.. Am i right?

[@mackspowah3281]

I loved Optimus Prime but his death was so heroic even to me as a little boy. He came through at the last minute and put his life on the line for his friends because he was that guy, the ultimate hero

[@MarsellusWallace2024]

I WISH he would write a fictional book on leadership/autobiography from the perspective of Optimus Prime. For me personally, Peter Cullen is more iconic than Robert Downey Jr. Optimus Prime is the only fictional character that I can genuinely say had some degree of influence on me; enough to affect my leadership style even in the days before I retired from the military. His brothers early influence on Mr Cullens method was vital. And his views and opinions on leadership...... timeless.

[@radolfkalis4041]

Be strong enough to be gentle.

[@_TheRockyGamer_]

Optimus’ death was a hard hitter for me! That shit made me sad when I watched it as a kid!

[@foggzillajr2700]

If you didn’t cry when Optimus died, then you have no soul 😂😭😭

[@hotrod8414]

Actually, if they didn't cry when Optimus Prime died, they basically kmew how to handle death well without crying because they wanted to avoid being called snowflakes and people who suffer from depression... when they actually don't suffer from depression and aren't snowflakes...

[@foggzillajr2700]

@@hotrod8414 in that sense then i sort of agree, yes they either knew how to deal with death, Or they didn’t understand its significance. To many this cartoon was their lively hood, what kept them going. Or to others simply just a show. Back in the day, if you showed weakness you’d be frowned upon. But that weakness to some, myself included, built us to who we are today. The show kept us going when in reality, life was hell. And when we lost someone like Optimus Prime, it ruined us, no doubt about it

[@hotrod8414]

@@foggzillajr2700 yeah. Ok. I'd agree with that too.

[@flyingdorito5035]

Well i did not cry because i already knew he came back

[@yakeishabaker5294]

Me a tell you,big woman like me a halla when he died

[@DoRag8]

As a grown man, I still cry about Optimus' death.

[@chaoticproductions3922]

I was at the one night only event of the reshowing of transformers the movie in theaters with my father a few years back and hearing Optimus Primes voice every second was like being there with him right doing his voice and it was amazing a transcending experience

[@dnj2815]

It was a seminal moment. It created impact like nothing else. It added weight and consequence which made it stick far longer than it would have otherwise

[@Tiresias55]

"Do not greave. Soon, I shall be one with the matrix." Jesus, that scene, chills still, 30 years on. Love this man, and Frank Welker, two talented giants within the voice acting community.

[@turtleboy991]

Wonder if that meant he got flashbacks during Revenge Of The Fallen when it came time to film Optimus' death scene? Also, I know the movie didn't do well at the time, but I'd sorta like to know how the actors of eventual cult classics, such as the first Transformers movie, feel when they find out that, later on, the movie becomes more and more appreciated over time.

[@richardlewis9037]

There NEVER was,IS, and forever will be the greatest and best autobot ever.!!

[@mrg466]

Prime is great, but many died off besides just Prime!

[@Toomnyusernae]

I watched the movie every day to keep him alive as a little 5 year old. Don't remember when I got Return of Optimus taped but right after watching the movie I'd throw the Return in to "complete" my movie experience.

[@mrg466]

Yeah, Prime came back, ... then it was, ok let's proceed with the butt kicking now!

[@sethputnamsghost]

Peter should get a Nobel Peace Prize. Optimus is a better leader than any human that has ever lived, my opinion.

[@LH74]

I agree. Prime is a better human than any human.

[@mr.t8355]

Prime dying was a moment as a kid I'll never foget...

[@mrg466]

We're you one of those kids who hid under the bed, or locked yourself in your room?

[@mrg466]

@@mr.t8355 That's funny!

[@greetings.haveaniceday.7162]

I was young at the time, shocked the hell outta me. Glad he had an epic comeback at the end though, made megs cry for starrrscreeam.

[@mrg466]

They brought The Screamer back too!

[@Thunderbirds404]

1986: Prime got whacked and didn’t come back. 2007: Prime got whacked but came back. There’s something with Transformers & Michael Bay, he doesn’t want Optimus Prime dead.

[@cryguy5426]

Nobody does

[@blueyjibanyan9648]

I STILL cry and bawl my freaking eyes out EVERYTIME he dies! And the funny thing is I've never seen him as a father figure, I've always seen him as a best friend since I was 5! God dang, it it hurts so much, I don't feel good till someone reassures me that he comes back alive or something in a series or something.

[@terricastle]

I mean, I'll be 49 soon, I saw the movie for the 1st time when I was 11 and was in a state of crushed numbness after it. I couldn't even enjoy the rest of the unbelievably amazing (albeit occasionally shockingly sadistic) movie after as much as I should have. It was only after Prime finally returned and most of the residual loss and upset dissolved that I could finally focus on and fully appreciate the rest of it. That death scene was so effective because of the MUSIC aswell, as much as the scene itself- it evoked all of the emotions we felt about him and how much he would be missed, I still lose my shit watching it even at my age as it pulls at and rips every heartstring I had invested in the character. Its funny they say they had no idea the character of Prime meant so much to kids and they were just hurrying the toy line along quickly, but they seemed to hit the nail right on the head bout how much he meant to us I that scene overall! I guess we who were so affected by this have a mass trauma bond in common 😅 Peter Cullen as we know was inspired by his brother's attitude about heros (in war) invented the personality and the essence of it through his voice and effective acting skills, some might get close but as far as I'm concerned, Prime started from him. He seems to have a lot of integrity through the years in his Prime voicing esp in the Michael Bay movies where he had occasionally fought to not say things he doesn't think Prime would say and had to reluctantly have to relent because of his contractual arrangement (also making him audition for the role again). Meeting him and Frank are defo on the top of my bucket list before it's too late ❤

[@marcovelasquez8998]

This guy is awesome!!!!

[@ReaperSigma]

One of the few voice actors I'd love to meet

[@aprilmcintyre3706]

I enjoyed you doing the voice for Optimus prime Peter Cullen I’ve watched the movie, l’m glad that Optimus came back to life, nobody can do Optimus prime like you Peter.

[@longwalksguidemenerdwalk8866]

This man is more manly than any of the hollywood actors.

[@alexgremlin3680]

So even the actor didn't like the death of Optimus.... big shock, both of them are great guys

[@gtaylor2455]

It hurt. It really really hurt. But I think in retrospective it was maybe the scene that ended true traditional storytelling for kids. Heroes die. That is the cost of being a hero. Its a lesson we learn through story. There was such a backlash that studios were afraid to do that kind of traditional heroic death again.

[@bbqking7410]

AUTOBOTS, TRANSFORM AND ROLL OUT!!!

[@thenomads9787]

I’m not ready for this man to Rust in Peace 😭😭😭

[@SqualidsargeStudios]

“Optimus prime is well and no longer living in poverty” that was a funny line XD

[@mattirzzmattimuss]

I had to watch that movie until I numb myself all those deaths, Optimus Prime's especially when I was younger.

[@mrg466]

Glad you didn't forget about the other characters that bit the dust!

[@craigmartinj]

Orson Welles vs. Peter Cullen.... two of the great voice actors. Unicron vs. Optimus Prime. Pure talent. Pure talent. We miss you both sirs.

[@BigNavy8175]

Peter isn’t dead and is still voicing optimus. He’s in the upcoming movie too.

[@McGyver777ATGMAIL]

I want a t shirt that says, "My heart was broken on page seventeen and I will never forget." Just so people never understand what the hell it means and I'll never tell a soul what it means. By the way, my mom wouldn't take me to see the movie, I found out later they had killed him, and I didn't watch until he came back. That gay second Prime sucked.

[@lordmegatrong1918]

That'd actually be a good gift for Peter Cullen... if you think about it...

[@jayjay86443]

Another good shirt would be "I SURVIVED THE CAR PAYMENTS!"

[@conz000]

"I met God last night- his name was Optimus Prime" - Anonymous movie-goer

[@hotrod8414]

Average and it is kinda true. For them transformers fans.

[@notinthemood7615]

Welp, guess I found my religion

[@LouseGrouse]

I love the way he tells stories so much

[@robertmunozjr1585]

*LONG LIVE OPTIMUS AND PETER*

[@DungarooTV]

I was a kid when I washed the animated movie and I cried like a baby!

[@galacticgufus]

Even his everyday speaking voice is magnificent.

[@kimchiekim5411]

It was really horific and very traumatic to us transformer fans back in the day I was 9 years old and my classmate was not able to come to school because optimus prime dies and the movie realy devasted us.

[@Yesitsmyrealname]

There is no man in history with more powerful words.

[@natureseeker9122]

He looks pretty good for someone his age.

[@grimlock8155]

I.... *INTENSE BLUSHING IN EMBARRASSMENT* *PETER_CULLEN.EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING*

[@natureseeker9122]

@@grimlock8155 are you really him?

[@grimlock8155]

@@natureseeker9122 yes... I'm Peter Cullen... for real, honestly...

[@stanley5484]

@@grimlock8155 hello peter =)

[@rumble-roses]

I can't say I blame Cullen for being pissed. They killed off Prime not for the sake of drama, but for 'new' toy sales :( Those movie writers/producers should be ashamed of themselves.

[@donxavier10]

Who the hell is doing thumbs down on this video?? How could you hate this?

[@ursidae97]

I think if you have to kill off a character like Optimus Prime they did it pitch perfectly. He fought honorably for his people, he sustained real lethal injuries, all his friends were there for him in his last moments and heard his final words, Hot Rod and Daniel Witwicky cried for him. Death is painful and heartbreaking, but this is exactly the kind of death a character with his weight deserves. It's a scene that says he will always be remembered. It's one of my favorite death scenes in all of cinema.

[@daveb3987]

The greatest Christmas present I ever had was my Optimus Prime toy. I’d take it with me everywhere. We didn’t have a VCR, and I went to my grandparents house to stay when my brother was born, and my aunt hired the new release video - Transformers the movie. There he was, my favourite, my hero, Optimus on the front cover. I was so excited. My aunt thought she’d hit a home run as you yanks might say - perfect choice, kept me happy while I was away from my parents, had my toy of my hero and about to watch a whole movie on video with him! Excitement through the roof. So then what unfolded on the screen was the murder and drawn out death scene of my hero. Tears welled up, I broke down - grandparents and my aunt were stunned - “oh my god, what have we done!” as they tried to comfort me saying it’s just a story, just pretend. I never liked any of the new episodes and would watch it on tv repeats until season 3 rolled around. Always listen to the kids - never the marketing department.

[@ClemmyHunter]

Can anyone recall if this was close to when The Challenger blew up? I know they were both in 86, i just remember those 2 moments actually made me completely cry as i watched the T.V.

[@mrg466]

The space shuttle blew up way before that!

[@mrg466]

I don't see my comment,..but anyhow, the space shuttle blew up, years before that!

[@Goliath691975]

Challenger blew up January 1986. Transformers premiered August 1986.

[@mrg466]

@@Goliath691975 your part right, The (Transformers movie) was 1986. The Shuttle blew up early 80's (maybe 81-82), I was only in 5 or 6 grade when it happened, which was also when they stole my older brother and I, idea for a Spider-Man game, which later came out for Atari!

[@jawanzamarsh3867]

@@mrg466 no he's completely right. The Challenger space shuttle exploded in January 1986 and Transformers the Movie was several months later in August of the same year. In fact, throughout January of this year there were all kinds of 35th anniversary tributes to the Challenger crew to show honor to their memory and show honor to their surviving families that lived these last 35 years with the pain if their loss. This is easily researchable through Google and other search tools.

[@JnEricsonx]

I was one of those crying kids. Hell, I've seen the movie in theaters 2x since for anniversary showings, I still tear up. Gonna try meeting him in a month!

[@Elricwulf]

Fortunately for Peter and his fans, most of Generation X hated his death too, so much so, that they had to bring him back. Lol. Even though Michael Bay sucks, I'm glad this man got lots more work as Optimus Prime over the years. They should have had Frank Welker, as well though.. no excuse for that. MB's 'Megatron' would have gotten at least some semblance of a personality. I couldn't even understand have of the Decepticon's dialogue in the MB movies.

[@chadjustice8560]

He did play him in age of extinction and the last knight.

[@Elricwulf]

@@chadjustice8560 That's right. I was mainly talking about the first 2 MB movies.. The voices of the Decepticons did get a little easier to understand in the later movies, even though some of the characters got even stupider and even further away from the original source material.

[@nvstewart]

This is the secret reason why Brian came back from the dead in Family Guy, except you replace kids with adults.

[@apocalypsenow1871]

Him and Frank just absolute legends. Am 39 and still scarred by Prime turning black before dying.

[@RichardX1]

When I saw the title, I asked myself "Which time?"

[@nitroxylictv]

Theres more to Cullen, than meets the eye.

[@tracyhill7960]

You are the ultimate Optimus and I'm pissed. We have fast and furious all over the place and they dont even know how to drive. How can we lose Optimus?

[@mrg466]

If they didn't kill him, who would take the movie seriously?

[@stephenpowell5912]

The voice behind KARR and Optimus prime along with Ironhide voiced by Peter Cullen, Legendary man❤️❤️❤️Left me in tears thinking about 37 years ago when he was killed off in 1986 ,His voice is memorable 😔❤️for a 12 year old back then in 1986 ,Now 49 wow would never have thought he was the legendary voiceover that brings back memories of growing up.❤️❤️❤️

[@mdccxcii6340]

We hated it too, peter. We hated it too.

[@Wiggywoo1977]

Seems like a very genuine person.

[@BubleBlwin2xBby]

The man died twice in one movie

[@redfern6013]

Peter Cullen is genuinely my hero

[@jasondillon2462]

Prime was more of a father to me than my real father. Sad i know. When i watched prime die it really hurt. Still love that movie though! It had balls! It said to hell with your feelings kids! Were gonna rip your hearts out!

[@xShadowNinjaEX]

Peter Cullen:I hated it Me:who doesn't?

[@tinatron9488]

Larry Cullen is gonna haunt you in your dreams and nightmares tonight..... Honestly.....

[@grimlock8155]

If you see Twisted Optimus Prime in your house, run for your life or else a jumpscare to death happens to you. I gotta tell you, Twisted Optimus Prime has a lot of sharp teeth and his body is really torn like you can see the metal endoskeleton through his metal skin.. seriously, think of Twisted Optimus Prime a mixture of the Nightmare Animatronics, TFP Optimus Prime and Twisted Bonnie. Yeah, that's super scary. He's seriously gonna scare the life out of you.... if you see him in your house and you don't run for your life..... ok?... *a fan told me about FNAF and warned me not to play it because of the jumpscares and how the jumpscares would effect me. Ok?*

[@cynax7757]

I haven't seen the animated movie yet. Glad I didn't get to watch it. I was going to feel the impact of it.

[@ronineditor9920]

I'm in my late 40s now but as a kid that was so traumatizing because he was like Superman to us and we didn't want to go to see a Superman film and watch him die, but to the toy company it was just rolling out a new set of toys. I know my friends and I did a letter writing campaign, begging to get him back. Then we did! We saw the promos of him coming back... but it was zombie Optimus with an arm ripped off, who died again in a ball of flames, giving kids hope and then twisting the knife, haha.

[@Pokemc0831]

Peter Cullen is the Jason David Frank of Transformers

[@ochosigod5417]

That shit stuck wit me and i cant watch it without getting all tear eyed and im 42 goddamn years old man

[@swarz08]

Some people actually hated the film because it just shoved out the old characters and gave out the new because Hasbro was selling toys and that's what they cared. Clearly not expecting or predicting, and in their ignorance, that kids actually were tear wet dried. Even some kid locked themselves in their room for two weeks. I gotta say when I saw Optimus Prime's death, the first I saw his death was in ROTF. It didn't really affect me in the 1986 Movie, but it felt different. It felt really... longing. And also, the movie has become a cult favorite since Prime's death actually gave way to new ideas. Also, I disliked how Takara killed off Prime again in their show, The Headmasters, and replaced him with copy cats and imposters in the future years and renamed him to Convoy or something. Which I know is his Japanese name, but I feel like they did him more dirty than Hasbro since they thought Optimus had his day. I really dislike them for that, and even still to this day. (But Optimus Primal is still by monkey bro) But for now, I think I'll wait for the Optimus Prime movie if it ever comes.

[@dariusbrock2713]

It's kinda sad that Optimus Prime was the only role keeping up his livelihood at the time. Voice actors deserve better.

[@DarkElfDiva]

My brother was so sad when Prime died that he beat me up as soon as he came home.

[@gavinlamp5426]

"There goes the car payments." 😂

[@tylermorgan5230]

I love him

[@josephsantoy1107]

Thanks sir, for everything

[@RemyJackson]

Poor Peter, they killed off both Optimus Prime and Ironhide. At least Frank Welker still had Soundwave, Rumble, Ravage, and Wheelie, and then took over as Galvatron in Season 3. Once Prime died, he only had one more line in the movie when Hot Rod opens the Matrix. Then in Season 3 he had a scene in Five Faces of Darkness part 2, and only featured heavily in 4 episodes of Season 3

[@dhimanroy2831]

YES , I'M CRYING.

[@edaniels240]

Peter is, was, & will always forever be Optimus & Ironhide

[@radolfkalis4041]

The decision to bring Optimus Prime back was strictly financial. The Transformers cartoon in the 80's was ONLY created to sell toys. They wanted to sell a new line of toys, new characters, so they killed off alot of the originals to make way for new ones. This backfired on them. Kids left theatres CRYING. No one wanted the new toys, they were outraged that their Hero Optimus Prime was gone. This was the only reason they brought back Optimus Prime, but by then it was too late. The cartoon ended soon after the 1986 animated movie.

[@UtahRepublican2024]

They're gonna make him do it til he's 90.

[@andrei1971]

The bright side is that even when Optimus Prime was dead, Peter Cullen still got to voixlce the Transformers commercials as Optimus Prime. (For some reason Optimus still presented new toys.)

[@jeremygeorgia4943]

The return of Optimus Prime was one of those moments, where the excuse to bring him back was tremendously thin & full of plot holes. HOWEVER, even knowing this, I didn't care. I felt the injustice of them killing him off in the first place outweighed the situation, and I welcomed any excuse to get him back. In the series, any injury was repairable. The weapons were pretty powerful, but the wielders were tough robots. I mean, at one time, they had almost completely disassembled Prime, and abandoned his head, yet they were able to put him back together. Suddenly, the movie comes out, and everyone starts dying. The big disappointment was that after Prime's final return, where the world of Transformers seemed to be shaken to the core, nothing ever seemed to come from that. Relations between the two factions seemed to have reset again, and Prime seemed to once again fade. Instead we got the weird "Headmasters" thing.

[@kiwiworld]

Til all are one The final words prime said before he died