Eric Bauza, Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 46
The Emmy-winning actor passed away suddenly after a battle with heart disease, his family announced.
Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor known for his work as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at the age of 46. His family shared the news of his passing on Instagram, stating that he died "suddenly" after a battle with heart disease.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records confirmed that heart disease was the cause of his death. In a statement, Bauza's family announced, "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. More details to come."
During his 25-year career, Bauza voiced numerous characters across film, television, and video games. He won three Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance in 2022, 2023, and 2025 for different animated shows. His performances in the Looney Tunes franchise included Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and The Road Runner.
Bauza also lent his voice to multiple characters in the animated comedy "Coyote vs. Acme," released in August. He portrayed Toad General in the 2023 film "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and its sequel "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."
Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Bauza began his voice acting career in the Canadian animated series "The Ripping Friends." He initially worked as a character designer for Hollywood production studios before transitioning to voice acting, accumulating over 421 credits on his IMDb profile.
He became known as the definitive modern successor to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc. Bauza first took on the role of Bugs Bunny in 2018, auditioning during breaks in recording sessions for "Uncle Grandpa." His official debut episodes for the HBO streaming series "Looney Tunes Cartoons" premiered in 2020.
Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, paid tribute to Bauza, saying, "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world." He added that Bauza often spoke of how carrying on the legacy of Looney Tunes was among the greatest honors of his life.
Film producer and screenwriter Christopher DeFaria, who collaborated with Bauza on "Coyote vs. Acme," told Variety that the actor would be remembered for his "incredible impact," noting his ability to carve out a unique place in the industry while voicing characters with historic precedents.