Peter Cullen, the iconic voice actor universally celebrated for bringing Optimus Prime to life, has passed away at his Los Angeles home at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed his passing to the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, noting that he died on Wednesday. In a statement, his family shared that he departed peacefully surrounded by loved ones, encouraging fans to honor his memory through community service, compassion, and his famous personal creed to “be strong enough to be gentle”.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Born in Montreal on July 28, 1941, to American parents, Cullen graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963 before cutting his teeth on Shakespearean performances in Stratford and acting at Toronto’s Crest Theatre. Over a prolific career spanning television, film, video games, and theme parks, he voiced a diverse array of memorable characters, including the giant ape in the 1976 King Kong remake, the villainous vehicle KARR in Knight Rider, and the alien hunter in the original Predator movie.

However, Cullen left an indelible mark on animation and children’s media during the 1980s and 1990s. He originated the definitive voice of Optimus Prime in the original “Generation 1” series and The Transformers: The Movie (1986), a role he triumphantly reprised when the franchise shifted to live-action under Michael Bay in 2007, continuing through subsequent sequels up to Bumblebee (2018) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023). Beyond the Autobot leader, generations of children also knew him as the voice of Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh franchise, a role he inhabited across multiple series and films starting in the late 1980s.

Recognized for his immense contributions to the industry, Cullen earned a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2011 for Transformers: Prime and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards in 2023. According to the Associated Press, he is survived by his four children: Angus, Claire, Pilar, and Clay.

Nigerian Afrobeats artist Raheem Okoya—son of renowned industrialist Rasaq Okoya—announced on Wednesday via Instagram that he is stepping away from professional music release. What initially started as a casual hobby and bonding activity with friends evolved into a professional career featuring major performances and recognition from childhood idols. However, over the past year, balancing music with his other obligations became increasingly difficult. Stating that he could no longer provide the craft with the required patience and dedication, he chose to make a professional exit.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

While the “Siraheem music” era is wrapping up—just months after the May 1, 2026 release of his eight-track debut project, By The Order Of The City—Raheem noted that he plans to channel his creativity into new ventures. He added that music remains therapeutic for him, leaving open the possibility that his unreleased album might eventually see the light of day. Since beginning his professional music journey around 2022, he built an audience through tracks like Bad Bitch Syndrome, Kowope, SOWETO, and TRU$T FUND.

Veteran Nollywood actor Musiliu Dasofunjo, widely known as Baba Johunomi, has disclosed that he is battling prostate cancer, using his platform to urge Nigerians to pay close attention to bodily changes and seek prompt medical care.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶