Many different actors have played the iconicTransformerscharacter 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 linesMicro ChangeandDiaclonewere 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, theTransformersfranchisehas 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.
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?
1Peter Cullen
First Performance: The Transformers (1984-1987)
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 theTransformersmoviesand 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:
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts(2023)
Live-Action Movie
Cullen has also voiced Optimus Prime several times outside of theTransformersfranchise proper, including in Universal Studios' Transformers: The Ride, a series of sleep stories for the Calm app, and a 2024 episode of the reality showThe Masked Singer.
2Tesshō Genda
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:
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.
3Satoshi Hashimoto
First Performance: Transformers: Car Robots (2000)
The next actor to portray any version of the character onscreen would be Satoshi Hashimoto, who voiced Convoy in the Japanese animated seriesTransformers: 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 inThe Rocky Horror Show,Les Misérables,Hamlet, and, more recently,Spirited Away,Moulin Rouge!, andCome from Away. However, he has also held voice roles in quite a few video games including playing the characterTerry Bogard from 1991’sFatal Fury: King of Fightersthrough 2010’sNeo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting.
4Neil Kaplan
First Performance: Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001-2002)
Neil Kaplan took over the role of Optimus Prime whenTransformers: Car Robots, later retitledRobots 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 otherTransformersmedia.
However, Kaplan would continue to provide English dubs for anime properties for quite some time, includingDigimon Frontier,Bleach,Zatch Bell!,Naruto,Sailor Moon, andAttack on Titan. He has also held roles in English-language animated projects including a 2019 episode ofLove, Death & RobotsandRobot Chicken, in which he voicedHarry Pottercharacter Albus Dumbledore.
5Garry Chalk
First Performance: Beast Machines: Transformers (1999-2000)
Voice actor Garry Chalk joined the franchise in 1999when he voiced both Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime inBeast Machines: Transformersbefore going on to dub Optimus Prime in the Western localizations of the threeTransformersanime series that are collectively known as the Unicron Trilogy. Below, see a breakdown of every series in which he has voiced the character:
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 movieGodzillaand appearing in the franchise horror moviesThe Fly II,Freddy vs. Jason,Leprechaun Origins, andThe Predator.
6Tōru Ōkawa
First Performance: Transformers: Armada (2002-2003)
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 includingJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt ArcandUtawarerumono: Mask of Truth.
As a voice actor, he has also provided the Japanese dubs for many English-language performers including Nicolas Cage inThe Wicker Man, Woody Harrelson inWar for the Planet of the Apes,Michael Keaton inMorbius, Jeff Daniels inDumb and Dumber To, and Jude Law inA.I. Artificial Intelligence.
7Katsuyuki Konishi
First Performance: Transformers: Energon (2004)
Katsuyuki Konishi was the second actor to portray Convoy in the Unicron trilogy, taking over the role in 2004’sTransformers: 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 asYakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii,No Longer Allowed in Another World, andMission: Yozakura Family.
Konishi is also a prolific dubber, having provided the Japanese voices for Angus Cloud inEuphoria, Seann William Scott inFinal Destination, Mos Def inShowtime, James Cusati-Moyer inBlack Adam, and more.
8Taiten Kusunoki
First Performance: Transformers: Cybertron (2005)
The third and final performer to voice Convoy in the Unicron trilogy,Transformers: Cybertronstar 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 includingChillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat PowersandSorcerous 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 inBlades of Glory, Peter Gallagher inZoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, and John Cena in12 Rounds.
9David Kaye
First Performance: Transformers: Animated (2007-2009)
The show ran for three seasons and a total of 42 episodes
After playing Megatron in a variety of series includingBeast Warsand the Unicron trilogy, David Kaye went on to voice Optimus Prime inTransformers: 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 movieEternalsand Question in DC animated properties includingJustice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.
10Jake Foushee
First Performance: Transformers: Cyberverse (2018-2020)
Jake Foushee, who was sometimes credited as Jacob Tillman, is another actor who played Optimus Prime multiple times, beginning with the 2018 animated seriesTransformers: Cyberverse. Foushee followed that by taking over for Cullen in theRescue BotssequelTransformers: Rescue Bots Academyafter the departure of voice actor Hiro Diaz, who was originally cast in the role.
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy(2020-2021)
Foushee’s acting roles have largely been limited to theTransformersfranchise, including voicing Optimus Prime in two video games, thoughthe actor has also played a supporting voice role in the 2019 live-action horror movieSlasher Party, which also featured performances from Ray J and Danny Trejo.
