Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor best known for bringing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and dozens of other Looney Tunes characters to life, has died aged 46.
The news was announced by his family in a statement shared on his Instagram account on Sunday.
“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,” the statement read.
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According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner, Bauza died at home, with the cause of death listed as hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Bauza had been scheduled to attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's The Cat in the Hat on Sunday to support Daffy Season, a short film featuring the character that plays before the movie.
Warner Bros. executives Channing Dungey and Bill Damaschke paid tribute to the voice actor in a joint statement, praising his contribution to the animation industry.
@thomnoah FROM BUGS BUNNY TO DAFFY DUCK — A VOICE FOR THE AGES ️ #EricBauza #BugsBunny #DaffyDuck #LooneyTunes #VoiceActing ♬ original sound - thomnoah
“Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world,” they said.
“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.”
They added that Bauza had described continuing the legacy of Looney Tunes as one of the greatest honours of his life.
Born in Toronto on December 7, 1979, Bauza began his career in animation as a character designer before moving into voice acting.
He went on to become one of the most recognisable voices in modern animation, following in the footsteps of legendary voice actor Mel Blanc, who originally voiced many of the classic Looney Tunes characters.
Alongside Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Bauza voiced characters including Tweety Bird, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Road Runner and Marvin the Martian.
His work included Looney Tunes Cartoons, Space Jam: A New Legacy and Coyote vs. Acme, in which he voiced numerous characters from the iconic franchise.
@ign Prolific voice actor Eric Bauza passed away at the age of 46. Here is less than 1% of his credited roles: #ericbauza #voiceactor #animation #looneytunes ♬ original sound - IGN Entertainment
Bauza also worked on a wide range of other animated productions, including The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Muppet Babies, The Fairly OddParents, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Powerpuff Girls.
He also voiced Lucky the Leprechaun in Lucky Charms cereal commercials and the Trix Rabbit in advertisements for Trix.
Throughout his career, he received Daytime Emmy, Children's and Family Emmy and Annie Award nominations for his voice work. He was also named on The Hollywood Reporter's inaugural Animation Power List in 2026.
Adam Sharp, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, paid tribute to Bauza, describing him as a beloved member of the organisation who had hosted its 2025 Children's and Family Emmy ceremony.
“To know Eric was to know joy,” Sharp said.
He praised Bauza's contribution to the industry and his support for student initiatives, adding that the organisation joined his family, friends, colleagues and fans in mourning his death.
Bauza's passing marks the loss of a major talent in the world of animation, whose performances helped introduce generations of viewers to some of the most beloved cartoon characters of all time.
