Eric Bauza, the Emmy Award-winning voice actor behind Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died Sunday at his home as a result of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records. He was 46.
Bauza’s death was announced by his family, who shared a statement to the actor’s 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,” they wrote. “More details to come.”
Bauza was one of the industry’s most in-demand voiceover actors, lending his voice to characters like the aforementioned Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, but also Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Porky Pig, Road Runner, Charlie the Dog and others in this year’s Looney Tunes film “Coyote vs. Acme.” He also voiced characters in “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “Looney Tunes Cartoons” and more.
In Variety’s Peter Debruge’s review of the 2024 film “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” he called Bauza, who voiced both Porky and Daffy, a “vocal MVP” who “brings a manic energy to the pair.”
At the time of his death, Bauza was in pre-production on two projects, “Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical” as Daffy Duck and “The Dragon Masters” as The Shogun King.
“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,” said Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks Chairman Channing Dungey in a statement. “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. In addition to his incredible talent, Eric was a treasured part of our animation family. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.”
Bauza was born on Dec. 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto. According to his SBV talent bio, he began his animation career as a character designer at a production studio in Hollywood. He worked in the animation department on films including “Good Vibe,” “Nimbrod and Stinky’s Antarctic Adventure,” “The Drawn Together Movie!,” “Slacker Cats,” “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera” and more.
