Emmy-winning voice actor Eric Bauza, renowned for voicing iconic Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died suddenly at his home in Los Angeles County on Sunday, October 25. He was 46 years old.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Bauza’s cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease, a condition classified as natural. Additional contributing factors included sleep apnea and class 2 obesity, according to medical records.
Bauza’s family announced his passing in a statement shared on his Instagram account, describing his death as sudden. The statement read: '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.'
Career Highlights and Legacy
Bauza, who began his career over 25 years ago, became one of the most recognizable voices in animation. His extensive body of work included voicing Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety Bird, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, and the Road Runner, among others.
In a 2021 interview with NBC News, Bauza reflected on the enduring appeal of Looney Tunes, stating: 'Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures. It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy.' He also noted that his favorite character to voice was Bugs Bunny, though he felt a deep connection to Daffy Duck as his career progressed.
Beyond Looney Tunes, Bauza lent his voice to numerous animated projects, including:
- Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
- Coyote vs. Acme (2024)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026), where he voiced Toad General
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Teen Titans Go!
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
- Woody Woodpecker
According to IMDb, Bauza amassed over 400 acting credits throughout his career.
Awards and Industry Recognition
Bauza’s talent was widely recognized, earning him three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance in:
- Teen Titans Go! (2022)
- Bugs Bunny Builders (2023)
- Looney Tunes Cartoons (2025)
He was also nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards between 2016 and 2021. Colleagues and industry leaders paid tribute to his work. 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. 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’s manager, Judy Coppage, described him as 'a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with.' She added: '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.'
Tributes and Upcoming Projects
Following his death, tributes poured in from fans and colleagues across social media. Bauza was attached to several upcoming projects at the time of his passing, including Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical.
In a 2023 interview with CBS LA, Bauza discussed his approach to voicing classic characters, stating: '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. They're not just voices; these are personalities that we've been familiar with now for 90 years — it's like your oldest family members.'