<P> He has stated that Optimus is his favorite voice role, and that he based the voice of the Autobot leader on his older brother Larry, who served in Vietnam . "When he came home, I could see a change . He was quieter and he was a man and a superhero to me," says the actor . "I watched him and listened to him . I'd never had an opportunity to do a superhero, and when that came, (that voice) just came right out of me and I sounded like Optimus ." </P> <P> He has also stated that he had no idea of Prime's popularity until the character's controversial death in the 1986 animated film, as the studio had never given him fan letters from children addressed to Optimus . The public backlash over Optimus' death surprised producers greatly . Children were leaving the theaters because of the character's death . The writers temporarily revived the character for a single episode in Season 3 called "Dark Awakening". Initially, this was intended to be his final appearance, but after fan requests continued, "The Return of Optimus Prime", a two - part episode was produced . The original ending of "Dark Awakening" was altered in reruns to include a teaser about the return of the character . </P> <P> Cullen reprised the role of Optimus Prime in the 2007 Transformers live - action film, and its sequels Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon, Age of Extinction, and The Last Knight, as well as the video games based on them . Cullen will also voice Optimus in the spin - off Bumblebee film, set to be released in 2018 . He is contractually obligated to voice Optimus in at least one more sequel . </P> <P> Cullen again reprised his role as Optimus Prime in the video games Transformers: War for Cybertron, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and Transformers: Devastation, and in the recent television series Transformers: Rescue Bots, Transformers Prime and Transformers: Robots in Disguise . His performance in the premiere season of Transformers: Prime earned him a nomination for a 2011 Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program category . </P>

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