From your beloved characters from the world of animated TV shows and films to major record-breaking motion pictures, you may not recognize his face, but you will definitely recognize Peter Cullen’s distinguished voice anywhere you hear it. For almost four decades, he has been setting the industry ablaze with his vocal and visual performances.
The most iconic role that he’s known for in the industry is the booming voice of Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots. But apart from that, the star has also lent his voice to introductory announcements in the past. This one time, when he was asked to make one for a variety show hosted by Cher, it only took him one take to deliver on that request.
How Peter Cullen Needed Only One Take To Impress Cher For Her Show
In the mid-80s, children grew up listening to the voice of Optimus Prime and the other Autobots in the first animated film of the franchise titled The Transformers: The Movie. The iconic voice of the leader that can still be heard in the live-action adaptations today is none other than Peter Cullen‘s, who has immortalized himself through the character of Prime in the industry.
But before all of that, the Canadian star was just another voice actor who did introductions for the TV shows of that time, and one of them happened to be hosted by none other than Cher herself.
In the past, when the star was just coming up in the industry as a voice actor, he was brought in by the creators of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, a variety show hosted by the Burlesque actress and Sonny Bono. Here, he was shown a clip of the introduction animation that would be played before the stars would take the screen as hosts.
He was taken with voicing the introductions for the stars by imitating a voice similar to that of a gremlin. He adhered to that specification and delivered the voice accordingly. With only one take, the star gave such a wonderful performance that they kept that voice line till the show eventually ended in 1974. He said (via IMDb):
“I was brought into the studio and they showed me an animated ball that was being poked with a stick from the inside, and the ball would open up. They said, ‘Try to think of a voice, or something. He’s kind of like a little gremlin inside the ball … Then, as an announcer, I want you to say, From Television City in Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the Sonny & Cher Show!, okay?’ So I do Take One. They kept that recording for the next four years. I never had to do it again.”
Thus, even Cher and the crew of her show were just amazed by how exceptional the Transformers star’s talent was.
Where Else Have We Seen Peter Cullen?
Apart from going most of his career to the iconic role of Optimus Prime in the franchise, with the aim of continuing to do so in the future as well, Cullen has been seen in many other projects lending his voice to many characters. He has been seen voicing Eeyore in the classic Tigger and Pooh franchise by Disney.
Other than that, the star’s voice can also be heard in the English version of the 1984 Japanese animated film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, where he plays side roles in his iconic commanding voice.
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