Eric Bauza, Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 46
The Emmy award-winning voice actor passed away suddenly, his family announced.
Eric Bauza, the voice artist behind iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, has died at the age of 46. A statement from the Emmy award-winning star's family, posted on Instagram, said he died "suddenly."
Bauza had recently lent his voice to characters in the animated film "Coyote vs. Acme" and appeared in "Forgotten Island." According to Variety, the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Bauza died at his home on Sunday.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Bauza was of Filipino descent. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he described himself as a lifelong fan of Looney Tunes characters, imitating their voices from childhood. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he said. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."
His extensive voice work included Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in the 2021 film "Space Jam: A New Legacy." He reprised these roles, along with Road Runner, for "Coyote vs. Acme." Bauza also voiced the character of Toad General in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023) and its sequel, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."
Between 2022 and 2025, Bauza earned three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance in various television series. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, stated, "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world." Dungey added that Bauza had followed in the footsteps of legendary voice artists like Mel Blanc and considered continuing the legacy of Looney Tunes one of the greatest honors of his life.