In a word, PRIME. Actor Garry Chalk had just made a special announcement through his social media platforms that he is now in remission after a battle with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma since late 2024. Argubly remembered as the voice of the Maximal leader Optimus Primal in the 1990s Transformers series, Beast Wars and its sequel series, Beast Machines, Mr. Chalk posted the message on the news of his victorious battle.
If the name Garry Chalk sounds familiar to you outside of Transformers, he is best remembered for his work in several live action and animated projects dones in his native Canada. The veteran actor was the first person to receive experimental chemotherapy, which successfully worked so well that it will be used on future patients. Many of Mr. Chalk's credits in film and television include The Fly II, Godzilla 2014, Freddy vs. Jason, Stargate SG-1, Cold Squad, The Predator, Power Rangers, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins, Watchmen, Tomorrowland, It, Supernatural, Arrow and even a cameo from the first live action Sonic the Hedgehog film. Despite originating the role of Optimus Primal, he did not reprised the part in 2023's Rise of the Beasts film, where he was instead voiced by Ron Perlman. Having previously voiced him in the Power of the Prime web-series from 2018.
Though a generation of younger fans also remembers him from his voiceover work in animation. Consisting of the likes of He-Man & the Masters of the Universe, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, ReBoot, Sgt. Savage and His Screaming Eagles, ¡Mucha Lucha!, Barbie, Eon Kid, My Little Pony, Exosquad, Spider-Man Unlimited, Yvon of the Yukon and among others. Chalk would even voice Primal's ancestor, Optimus Prime later in the Unicron Trilogy centered shows, Transformers: Armada, Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Cybertron.
Out big congratulations goes to Mr. Chalk for his recent successful battle against cancer and the outpouring support that he recived from his friends, family and fans that he made over the years. Including the Transformers community as a whole for bringing him in what could've been his darkest hour. And now looking back and feeling Prime than ever!