Many different actors have played the iconic Transformers character Optimus Prime over the years. The franchise, which is a collaboration between Hasbro in America and Takara Tomy in Japan, originally kicked off when the Takara Tomy toy lines Micro Change and Diaclone were rebranded in the West in 1984, accompanied by an animated series bringing the characters from the lines to life. Optimus Prime, whose Japanese name is Convoy, was one of the original Transformers characters during this rebrand launch.
Since it originated, the Transformers franchise has expanded to include a vast array of further toy lines and animated shows as well as additional multimedia properties including animated and live-action movies, comic books, video games, and more. Optimus Prime has continued to be one of the core characters of many of these iterations, and more than a dozen different actors have provided his voice over the years, with still others providing the voice of the character for toys, web series, and other related media.
Related Transformers: Every Version Of Optimus Prime, Ranked
There have been plenty of interpretations of Optimus Prime over the years – but which is the best for the Transformer?
1 Peter Cullen
First Performance: The Transformers (1984-1987)
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Peter Cullen is the original voice actor to play Optimus Prime in the franchis,e as well as the most frequent star to reprise the role, having voiced him from the original animated series through the Transformers movies and beyond. Below, see a breakdown of all of Cullen’s stints in the role, not counting video games, shorts, or animated episodes reconstituted as feature-length video releases:
|
Title |
Format |
|---|---|
|
The Transformers (1984-1987) |
Animated Series |
|
The Transformers: The Movie (1986) |
Animated Movie |
|
Transformers (2007) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers Prime (2010-2013) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011-2016) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising (2013) |
Animated Movie |
|
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015-2017) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Titans Reborn (2017-2018) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: Power of the Primes (2018) |
Animated Series |
|
Bumblebee (2018) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) |
Live-Action Movie |
Cullen has also voiced Optimus Prime several times outside of the Transformers franchise proper, including in Universal Studios’ Transformers: The Ride, a series of sleep stories for the Calm app, and a 2024 episode of the reality show The Masked Singer.
2 Tesshō Genda
First Performance: The Transformers (1984-1987)
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Tesshō Genda is essentially the equivalent of Peter Cullen in Japan, though he has not played the role of Convoy quite as many times as Cullen has played Optimus Prime. However, Genda did portray the character in the original Japanese dub of the 1984 animated series, reprising the role in the dubs of the live-action movies just as Cullen did in the original English-language releases. See a full breakdown of his performances dubbing for Cullen below:
|
Title |
Format |
|---|---|
|
The Transformers (1984-1987) |
Animated Series |
|
The Transformers: The Movie (1986) |
Animated Movie |
|
Transformers (2007) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Bumblebee (2018) |
Live-Action Movie |
|
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) |
Live-Action Movie |
Genda is a frequent dubber for Hollywood stars, having provided Japanese dubs for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Dan Aykroyd, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, and more, across multiple movies.
3 Satoshi Hashimoto
First Performance: Transformers: Car Robots (2000)
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The next actor to portray any version of the character onscreen would be Satoshi Hashimoto, who voiced Convoy in the Japanese animated series Transformers: Car Robots, a reboot which ran for a total of 39 episodes in 2000 and creating a new continuity for the franchise.
Hashimoto is better known as a stage performer, having held roles in The Rocky Horror Show, Les Misérables, Hamlet, and, more recently, Spirited Away, Moulin Rouge!, and Come from Away. However, he has also held voice roles in quite a few video games including playing the character Terry Bogard from 1991’s Fatal Fury: King of Fighters through 2010’s Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting.
4 Neil Kaplan
First Performance: Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001-2002)
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Neil Kaplan took over the role of Optimus Prime when Transformers: Car Robots, later retitled Robots in Disguise, was localized for Western markets and aired between 2001 and 2002. Just like Hashimoto, he would not go on to reprise the iconic character in other Transformers media.
However, Kaplan would continue to provide English dubs for anime properties for quite some time, including Digimon Frontier, Bleach, Zatch Bell!, Naruto, Sailor Moon, and Attack on Titan. He has also held roles in English-language animated projects including a 2019 episode of Love, Death & Robots and Robot Chicken, in which he voiced Harry Potter character Albus Dumbledore.
5 Garry Chalk
First Performance: Beast Machines: Transformers (1999-2000)
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Voice actor Garry Chalk joined the franchise in 1999 when he voiced both Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime in Beast Machines: Transformers before going on to dub Optimus Prime in the Western localizations of the three Transformers anime series that are collectively known as the Unicron Trilogy. Below, see a breakdown of every series in which he has voiced the character:
|
Title |
Format |
|---|---|
|
Beast Machines: Transformers (1999-2000) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: Armada (2002-2003) |
Animated Series |
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Transformers: Energon (2004) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: Cybertron (2005-2006) |
Animated Series |
Chalk has also appeared in quite a few live-action roles over the years
Chalk has also appeared in quite a few live-action roles over the years, including playing the minor character Stan Walsh in the 2014 Monsterverse movie Godzilla and appearing in the franchise horror movies The Fly II, Freddy vs. Jason, Leprechaun Origins, and The Predator.
6 Tōru Ōkawa
First Performance: Transformers: Armada (2002-2003)
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Tōru Ōkawa was the first of three actors to voice Convoy in the Unicron Trilogy, originating the role in the first series, Transformers: Armada. He would not go on to voice the character in any other media in the franchise, though he has continued to have a robust career as a voice actor in projects including JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc and Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth.
As a voice actor, he has also provided the Japanese dubs for many English-language performers including Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man, Woody Harrelson in War for the Planet of the Apes, Michael Keaton in Morbius, Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber To, and Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence.
7 Katsuyuki Konishi
First Performance: Transformers: Energon (2004)
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Katsuyuki Konishi was the second actor to portray Convoy in the Unicron trilogy, taking over the role in 2004’s Transformers: Energon. Just like Tōru Ōkawa before him, he did not reprise the role in future installments, though his voice acting career has continued to thrive and indeed includes 11 projects in 2024 alone, such as Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, No Longer Allowed in Another World, and Mission: Yozakura Family.
Konishi is also a prolific dubber, having provided the Japanese voices for Angus Cloud in Euphoria, Seann William Scott in Final Destination, Mos Def in Showtime, James Cusati-Moyer in Black Adam, and more.
8 Taiten Kusunoki
First Performance: Transformers: Cybertron (2005)
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The third and final performer to voice Convoy in the Unicron trilogy, Transformers: Cybertron star Taiten Kusunoki similarly did not reprise the role after starring in the 2005 animated series. While not as prolific as Katsuyiki Konishi, he has continued to work through 2024, voicing characters in animated series including Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Chaos in Urbanrama.
Kusunoki’s Japanese dubbing roles for English-language performances include dubbing for Dwayne Johnson in 20 movies, Vin Diesel in 12, Dave Bautista in nine, Idris Elba in four, Mahershala Ali in three, Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory, Peter Gallagher in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, and John Cena in 12 Rounds.
9 David Kaye
First Performance: Transformers: Animated (2007-2009)
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The show ran for three seasons and a total of 42 episodes
After playing Megatron in a variety of series including Beast Wars and the Unicron trilogy, David Kaye went on to voice Optimus Prime in Transformers: Animated, which debuted on Cartoon Network in December 2007, becoming the first animated installment in the franchise after the debut of the first live-action movie. The show ran for three seasons and a total of 42 episodes.
Although he hasn’t reprised the role since the end of the show in 2009, he has taken on a variety of notable roles since then, including playing Arishem the Judge in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Eternals and Question in DC animated properties including Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.
10 Jake Foushee
First Performance: Transformers: Cyberverse (2018-2020)
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Jake Foushee, who was sometimes credited as Jacob Tillman, is another actor who played Optimus Prime multiple times, beginning with the 2018 animated series Transformers: Cyberverse. Foushee followed that by taking over for Cullen in the Rescue Bots sequel Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy after the departure of voice actor Hiro Diaz, who was originally cast in the role.
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Title |
Format |
|---|---|
|
Transformers: Cyberverse (2018-2020) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (2019-2020) |
Animated Series |
|
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (2020-2021) |
Animated Series |
Foushee’s acting roles have largely been limited to the Transformers franchise, including voicing Optimus Prime in two video games, though the actor has also played a supporting voice role in the 2019 live-action horror movie Slasher Party, which also featured performances from Ray J and Danny Trejo.
11 Hiro Diaz
First Performance: Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (2019-2020)
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Hiro Diaz is a voice actor who was originally cast as Optimus Prime in Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy but only played the role for the character’s first three appearances in the series. Those were limited to the two-part season 1 premiere “Recruits” and season 1, episode 12, “Rescue Promo.” From Optimus Prime’s next appearance in season 1, episode 51, and onward, Diaz was replaced by Jake Foushee, who had already played the role previously in Transformers: Cyberverse.
As this was the only credited role held by Diaz, not much else is known about the actor, nor is there much information available about why the actor playing Optimus Prime was switched out midway through the season.
12 Alan Tudyk
First Performance: Transformers: EarthSpark (2022-2024)
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Alan Tudyk played the role of Optimus Prime for the first and so far only time in the animated series Transformers: EarthSpark, a Paramount+ and Nickelodeon program that premiered in 2022 and has so far run for two seasons and a total of 36 episodes.
Tudyk has played live-action roles in a variety of well-known projects and cult titles including Firefly, A Knight’s Tale, and Resident Alien, though he has also played many prominent roles as a voice actor. This includes voicing Hei Hei the chicken in Moana, Batman villains The Joker and Clayface in Harley Quinn, and the droid K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
13 Chris Hemsworth
First Performance: Transformers One (2024)
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Chris Hemsworth’s first stint in the role of Optimus Prime is in the 2024 animated movie Transformers One, which follows a younger version of the iconic character and features a star-studded voice cast that also includes Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm.
Hemsworth is best known for live-action roles, particularly playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, other than reprising his role as Kevin in the Ghostbusters video game, the only other voice roles he has played have been in other Marvel-related works including playing Thor in What If…? and the Thor video game as well as making an uncredited cameo as Throg in Loki, making the role of Optimus Prime a major departure for the star.
Transformers
Transformers is a multimedia franchise consisting of movies, TV Shows, video games, and comics. The franchise centers on a race of humanoid robots called the autobots who must protect Earth from the Decepticons. Some of the most popular characters include Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee. In 2007, the first live-action movie in the franchise was released starring Shia Labeouf.
Created by Hasbro First Film Transformers (2007) Latest Film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Upcoming Films Transformers One First TV Show The Transformers Latest TV Show Transformers: EarthSpark Character(s) Megatron , Optimus Prime , Starscream , Bumblebee , Mirage , Ratchet , Ironhide , Jazz , Sam Witwicky Expand