Eric Bauza, Modern Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor who served as the modern voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes characters, died Sunday, Oct. 25, at his home, Variety reported, citing Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records. He was 46.

The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that the manner of death was natural, NBC Los Angeles reported. The station said Bauza died at a home in Los Angeles County.

Family and manager confirm his death

Bauza's family announced his death in a statement posted to his Instagram account on Sunday night, according to NBC Los Angeles. "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," the statement read. "More details to come."

His manager, Judy Coppage, told NBC News by email that "Eric was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with." In remarks also reported by CBS Los Angeles, Coppage said, "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 Hollywood Reporter reported that Bauza had been scheduled to attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's "The Cat in the Hat" on Sunday afternoon to support "Daffy Season," a short that plays before the film, according to press documents.

Warner Bros. pays tribute

Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, said in a statement reported by Variety and Deadline: "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world. During his 15 years at Warner Bros. Animation, he was the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among countless other characters. 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."

Chris DeFaria, who produced this year's Looney Tunes film "Coyote vs. Acme," told Variety that Bauza had an "absolutely tireless dedication" to animation. "He embodied everything we wanted from this film, including the major theme of the movie that a little guy can make a difference in this world," DeFaria said, according to the outlet.

A career of more than 400 credits

Beyond Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Bauza voiced Looney Tunes characters including Porky Pig, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety and Road Runner, according to CBS Los Angeles, which reported that he had more than 400 acting credits on his IMDb page. Variety reported that his first credit was "The Ripping Friends" in 2001 and that he voiced several characters in "Coyote vs. Acme," as well as in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" and "Looney Tunes Cartoons."

Outside Looney Tunes, Deadline reported that his roles included Stimpy, Puss in Boots, Woody Woodpecker and characters in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Avatar: The Last Airbender," "Rick and Morty," "Star Trek: Lower Decks" and "X-Men '97." The BBC reported that he played the Toad General in 2023's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and its sequel, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." At the time of his death, Bauza was in pre-production on "Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical," as Daffy Duck, and "The Dragon Masters," according to Variety.

Bauza won three Children's & Family Emmy Awards, for "Looney Tunes Cartoons," "Bugs Bunny Builders" and "Teen Titans Go!," Variety reported. Deadline reported that his 2022 win for "Looney Tunes Cartoons" was the first-ever Children's and Family Emmy for Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program. He was also nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards, according to Variety and CBS Los Angeles.

From Toronto to the role Mel Blanc originated

Bauza was born Dec. 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto, and began his animation career as a character designer at a Hollywood production studio, according to Variety, citing his SBV Talent bio. NBC News reported that he said in a 2021 interview that he was the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny in the Looney Tunes cartoons, and that the classic cartoons were part of the bond between his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he told NBC News at the time. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."

In an August appearance on CBS Los Angeles to discuss "Coyote vs. Acme," Bauza described the influence of Mel Blanc, the original voice of many of the characters. "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 said, according to the station.