It wasn’t slanderous or anything, it was just the choice of words and temper. I don’t even like repeating them so I won’t. “My instinct was that it was wrong and it was something he would never say. “I refused to use a couple or words and I was forced to,” he says. In fact, he took a stand against a small snippet of dialogue that he felt was inappropriate, a battle he ultimately lost. Maybe it’s because of those poignant origins, but it’s a job that Cullen has taken to heart over the years. Directed by Michael Bay, the film begat a lucrative franchise and plenty of work for Cullen, who has voiced the character in all four sequels and its 2018 spin-off, Bumblebee. He has played the role for various mediums over the years, including the 2007 mega-budgeted, live-action blockbuster. Other actors have voiced the role, but it’s safe to say that Cullen is the actor best known for giving life to the heroic leader of the Autobots, a giant robot from another planet who can transform into a semi-trailer truck.Ĭullen first got the role back in the 1980s for the animated series, which itself was based on a popular line of Japanese toys. But it goes a long way in revealing why Optimus Prime is not only the Montreal-born voice actor’s most famous creation but also his favourite. ![]() That’s how I handled it.”Ĭullen has told the story before. It was Larry, my brother, on the pages in front of me. The tone of his voice was very, very clear and compassionate and soft with depth. Don’t be a yelling, screaming, Hollywood phoney. “But his advice to me was that to be a leader, be strong and compassionate. “When he came home, there was a marked difference in his overall demeanour,” says Cullen, in an interview with Postmedia. Larry was a captain in the Marine Corps and a Vietnam War veteran who had been awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Indeed, through creativity and commitment to his craft, Cullen has delivered indelible voices cementing his status as a true icon of his profession.Peter Cullen looked to his brother, Larry, when it came to developing the voice of heroic Transformer, Optimus Prime. Remarkably, Peter Cullen even provided the infamous guttural sounds punctuating the action classic Predator, adding his own customized vocal filter growls to create the brutal alien hunter’s clicks and roars. ![]() Among many other roles, Cullen was also the first actor to voice KARR in the iconic 1980s series Knight Rider. Beyond his Emmy-nominated performance as Optimus, Cullen also voiced mopey Winnie the Pooh pal Eeyore in Disney’s animated Pooh franchise. He has lent his dramatic baritone pipes bringing to life characters across movies, TV, and other media over his six-decade career. He now shares the honor alongside vaunted names like Bay himself and “Weird Al” Yankovic for fundamentally shaping the Transformers juggernaut.Īlso Read: Optimus Prime: Astounding Facts About the Autobot Leader What Other Beloved Characters Has Peter Cullen Voiced Across All Genres? Optimus Prime – TransformersĬullen’s talents extend far beyond his Autobot fame. ![]() Cullen’s lasting impact earned him induction as one of only six members so far selected for toymaker Hasbro’s Hall of Fame. His voice has embodied the character through TV shows, blockbuster Michael Bay movies, video games, and beyond, cementing his unimpeachable standing. The longevity of Cullen’s Optimus Prime performance remains nothing short of generation-spanning. Upon receiving his award, Cullen movingly credited the loyalty of Transformers fans worldwide for the recognition, closing: Today over 80 years old, Peter Cullen’s Lifetime Achievement honor commemorates both his rare talent for breathing life into characters, as well as the uncommon heart and humanity that he infuses into even his most fantastical roles. Optimus Prime Icon Peter Cullen Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award Peter Cullen via The Paramount Pictures NATAS President Adam Sharp celebrated Cullen’s unforgettable career voicing pop culture icons. ![]() NATAS, which annually confers Emmys recognizing excellence in television, honored the 81-year-old Cullen at the organization’s 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Awards ceremony on December 17th. Veteran voice talent Peter Cullen, beloved by fans worldwide as the voice of noble Autobot leader Optimus Prime in Transformers across multiple decades, has been bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |