Voice of Bugs Bunny Eric Bauza dies suddenly at 46
Emmy-winning voice actor Eric Bauza, the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, his family announced.
Eric Bauza died at age 46 from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His family announced his sudden passing via a statement on his Instagram account on Sunday, stating that more details would follow.
Bauza was the definitive modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck for Warner Bros. Animation, a role he held for 15 years. He followed in the footsteps of the legendary Mel Blanc. Bauza himself said that carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy was among the greatest honours of his life. He was the first person of colour to voice Bugs Bunny in the 2020 series Looney Tunes Cartoons.
Iconic voice legacy
He voiced dozens of classic characters, including Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and the Road Runner. His work spanned more than two decades, amassing over 400 acting credits. His first role was in The Ripping Friends in 2001. Before focusing on voice acting, he began his career in Hollywood as a character designer.
Career highlights and achievements
Bauza was an Emmy Award-winning voice actor. He received five Daytime Emmy nominations and won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. His acclaimed work included Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders, and Teen Titans Go!.
His extensive filmography includes major projects across animation. A selection of his notable credits is below.
| Project | Role/Contribution |
|---|---|
| Looney Tunes Cartoons | Voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and others |
| Space Jam: A New Legacy | Voice roles |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) | Voice of Toad General |
| Coyote vs. Acme (2024) | Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck |
| The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024) | Voice of Porky Pig and Daffy Duck |
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | Voice roles |
| Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Voice roles |
Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Channing Dungey called Bauza a treasured part of the animation family. Producer Chris DeFaria praised his tireless dedication and the pure joy he brought to his work.
Final projects and future work
At the time of his death, Bauza was in pre-production on two significant projects. He was set to voice Daffy Duck in Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical and The Shogun King in The Dragon Masters.
He had also confirmed multiple voice roles for 2026. These included characters in Chibiverse, Minions & Monsters, Forgotten Island, Rick and Morty, Superkitties, and Avatar: Seven Havens. His final film roles were as Button Wutton and Sarangay in the DreamWorks film Forgotten Island.
Eric Bauza was born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto. He grew up watching Looney Tunes with his father and grandfather in the Philippines. He studied classic episodes for at least an hour daily to perfect his portrayal of Bugs Bunny. His final project was set to be the voice of Daffy Duck in the upcoming musical Bye Bye Bunny.
