Three Legends Gone in One Heartbreaking Week: Peter Cullen, Dolly Parton and Tim Curry Leave Behind Unforgettable Legacies

It has been a brutal week for fans of movies, television and music. Dolly Parton, Tim Curry and now Peter Cullen have all died within days of each other, bringing the loss of three familiar faces and voices that have been part of popular culture for decades.

Cullen died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home at 85, his agent told TMZ. He was best known as the voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers, but that was only one of the many characters he played during his long career. Parton and Curry were just as recognizable in their own fields, and each left behind work that fans will keep returning to.

For a lot of people, these are performers they have known for most of their lives. Cullen was Optimus Prime, Parton was behind some of country music’s biggest songs, and Curry gave audiences Frank-N-Furter, Pennywise and Wadsworth. Losing all three in such a short period of time is a lot to take in.

Peter Cullen’s Voice Will Always Be Optimus Prime

There are plenty of actors who have played Optimus Prime, but for longtime Transformers fans, Peter Cullen is the voice of the character. He first played the Autobot leader in the original 1980s animated series and returned to the role for the live action movies, starting with Michael Bay’s 2007 Transformers.

Cullen’s career was much bigger than Optimus, though. He voiced Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers and KARR in Knight Rider. He also provided the voice of the Predator in the 1987 movie Predator and played Mario in the original Donkey Kong animated series.

Still, it is hard to separate Cullen from Optimus Prime. His deep voice gave the character the commanding presence he needed while still making him sound warm. Even people who have never watched the original Transformers series may recognize Cullen the second he starts speaking.

Cullen’s family said he died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. They asked fans to honor him by serving their communities and leading others with compassion, integrity and loyalty, adding, “be strong enough to be gentle.”

That final message feels appropriate for the actor who spent so many years giving a voice to one of pop culture’s most recognizable heroes.

Parton and Curry Left Behind Some Very Different Fan Favorites

Dolly Parton had one of those careers where it almost feels easier to list what she did not do. She became a country music superstar with songs including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” then moved into acting with movies such as 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias. Her work with the Imagination Library also made children’s literacy a major part of her legacy.

Curry took a very different path, but his most famous roles are just as difficult to forget. His performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show made him a cult favorite, while his portrayal of Pennywise in the 1990 It miniseries terrified an entirely different audience. He was also hilarious as Wadsworth in Clue, proving he could do much more than play larger-than-life villains.

That is part of what makes losing performers like these so strange. Their work does not stay in the past. Someone discovers Rocky Horror for the first time, a kid watches Transformers, or a song by Parton comes on the radio, and suddenly a piece of their career is right there again.

Cullen, Parton and Curry may have worked in completely different corners of entertainment, but none of them were easy to forget. Their voices, songs and performances became attached to characters and moments that audiences have carried with them for years.

That is why this week has been such a difficult one for so many fans. Three familiar names are gone, but there is still plenty of them left to revisit.

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