re: Peter Cullen has died

“You got the touch, you got the powerrrrrr…yeah!!!!!”

quote:

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I would rate him #2 right behind JEJ's Darth Vader voice.

I can't think of a single other character actor that has crossed so many generations of popularity as these two.

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That's an accurate assessment, IMO.

The Mount Rushmore of Voiceover would be different for each generation, to be sure, but if you're trying to establish GOAT status across all media for all time, I don't think that Cullen would make the Top 4. For me, it's Mel Blanc, Daws Butler, June Foray & Frank Welker.

That said - if considering single character performances, I'd argue that his role as Optimus Prime is absolutely up there with JEJ as Vader, Welker as Megatron and I'm torn on deciding a fourth.

In the modern era, I'd offer up Tara Strong, Rob Paulsen, Jim Cummings and possibly Grey DeLisle. Billy West, Tress MacNeille & Maurice LaMarche would likely earn the Honorable Mentions there.

ETA- It's worth mentioning that Frank Welker has the distinction of being the most prolific voice actor in history, netting more than 800+ credits to his resume. It should be said that the way VO credit was structured in the Golden Age of WB shorts, Mel Blanc was often the only credited voice in the Looney Tunes shorts, even though people like June Foray would have character voices she provided for the same shorts.