WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Eric Bauza died suddenly at 46 after battling heart disease, according to his family and Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records.
- The Canadian actor voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and numerous other beloved animated characters during a 25 year career.
- Bauza won three Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
- Warner Bros. executive Channing Dungey and filmmaker Christopher DeFaria praised Bauza’s talent, joy and impact on voice acting.
Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor known for bringing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and numerous other Looney Tunes characters to life, has died suddenly at the age of 46 following a battle with heart disease, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records listed heart disease as the cause of Bauza’s death. His family announced his passing through a statement shared on Instagram.
The family said: '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.'
Eric Bauza has sadly passed away at the age of 46.
The legendary modern voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, Foop, Tiger Claw and many more. https://t.co/rFiggn4cNq — Cartoon Base (@TheCartoonBase) October 26, 2026
The Canadian actor spent 25 years in the entertainment industry and built an extensive body of work across film, television, and video games. His performances as beloved Looney Tunes figures brought him three Emmy Awards.
Bauza voiced multiple characters in the animated comedy Coyote v Acme, which was released in August. His roles included Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and The Road Runner.
His connection to Looney Tunes began long before he professionally inherited some of its most recognizable roles. Bauza previously said he had been a major fan while growing up and would try to imitate the characters’ voices.
Speaking to NBC News in 2021, Bauza said: 'Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures.' He added: 'It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy.'
Beyond Looney Tunes, Bauza played Toad General in the 2023 animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie. He reprised the role in its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which became the fifth highest-grossing film of 2026 internationally.
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Bauza won Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance in 2022, 2023 and 2025. The three awards recognized his work on different animated shows and reflected his prominent place in modern voice acting.
Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, was among those who paid tribute following the news. Dungey said: 'Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world.'
Dungey also reflected on Bauza’s role in continuing an enduring animation tradition. '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 honours of his life.'
Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Bauza made his voice acting debut in the Canadian animated series The Ripping Friends. Before establishing himself behind the microphone, he began his animation career as a character designer for Hollywood production studios.
Bauza eventually accumulated more than 421 voice acting credits across film, television, and video games, according to his IMDb profile. He became the definitive modern successor to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc and first took on the role of Bugs Bunny in 2018.
Showrunner Peter Browngardt hired Bauza to audition during breaks in recording sessions for Uncle Grandpa. His official debut episodes later premiered with the 2020 launch of the HBO streaming series Looney Tunes Cartoons.
Film producer and screenwriter Christopher DeFaria, who worked with Bauza on Coyote v Acme, said the performer would be remembered for his 'incredible impact.' DeFaria praised Bauza’s ability to make his own mark while portraying animated characters with historic precedents.
DeFaria said: 'He's a voiceover artist for animated characters that have historic precedents and roles, and somehow out of that, he carved out a place in this business.'
He also credited Bauza with championing voice acting while contributing to their film. 'This past year, he had such an incredible impact, both on our movie, of course, but also on bringing attention to this amazing art form.'
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