Eric Bauza, Emmy-winning voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor who became the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died Sunday, Oct. 25, at his home in Los Angeles County. He was 46.

His family announced the news in a short statement on his Instagram account. “Eric Bauza, Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters, has passed away suddenly,” they wrote, according to Variety. “More details to come.”

The news drew wide attention from animation fans, many of whom grew up with the characters he voiced, and tributes came quickly from the industry.

How did Eric Bauza die?

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records list the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease, a heart condition linked to high blood pressure, Variety and CBS Los Angeles reported. His family described his death as sudden and said more details would come later. No other details had been made public as of early Monday.

“Eric was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with,” his manager, Judy Coppage, told CBS Los Angeles. “His sudden passing is a shock to all of us, and he will be deeply missed. It’s a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans.”

The voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck

Bauza spent about 15 years with Warner Bros. Animation, where he took on the roles first made famous by Mel Blanc. Along with Bugs and Daffy, he voiced Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, Pepé Le Pew and Road Runner, according to Variety and CBS Los Angeles.

“Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world,” Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks Chairman Channing Dungey said in a statement. “He followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc. Eric said that carrying on the legendary legacy of the Looney Tunes was among the greatest honors of his life.”

Bauza often credited Blanc directly. “All of my work is based off of the original voiceover artist, the great Mel Blanc; he was the original. I like to call him the blueprint of these characters,” he told CBS Los Angeles in August. He said Bugs was his favorite character to voice, but that as he got older, he felt more like Daffy.

Eric Bauza movies and TV shows

Bauza had more than 400 acting credits, starting with “The Ripping Friends” in 2001, Variety reported. Highlights include:

• “Space Jam: A New Legacy” (2021): Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn, per the BBC
• “Looney Tunes Cartoons” and “Bugs Bunny Builders”
• “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” (2024): Porky and Daffy; Variety’s review called him a “vocal MVP”
• “Coyote vs. Acme” (2026): several Looney Tunes characters, including Road Runner
• “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”: Toad General, per the BBC
• TV work on “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Chowder,” “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated,” “Ben 10: Omniverse,” “Teen Titans Go!,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “The Adventures of Puss in Boots”

In 2026 alone he worked on projects including “Rick and Morty,” “Minions & Monsters,” “Forgotten Island” and “Avatar: Seven Havens,” Variety said. At the time of his death he was in pre-production on “Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical,” as Daffy Duck, and “The Dragon Masters.”

Emmy wins and early life

Bauza won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, for “Teen Titans Go!,” “Bugs Bunny Builders” and “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” and earned five Daytime Emmy nominations, according to Variety.

He was born Dec. 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto, and was of Filipino descent, the BBC reported. He started out in animation as a character designer before moving into voice work. “Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures,” he said in a 2021 interview quoted by the BBC. “It doesn’t matter what part of the planet you’re from. You get the comedy.”

“Coyote vs. Acme” producer Chris DeFaria told Variety he will remember Bauza’s “absolutely tireless dedication” to animation.

FAQ