Eric Bauza, the Emmy Award-winning voice actor who became the modern vocal pillar for iconic animated characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died Sunday at his Los Angeles home due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease. He was 46.
As a successor to animation legends like Mel Blanc, Bauza carried forward historical vocal legacies while building an extensive contemporary portfolio spanning Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network productions over two decades.
Eric Bauza Dies at Age 46
- The Loss: Eric Bauza passed away at age 46 on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, as confirmed by Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records.
- The Legacy: He served as the primary modern voice for core Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, and Porky Pig, earning three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
- The Industry Footprint: With over 400 credits ranging from Coyote vs. Acme to Avatar: The Last Airbender, he was one of the prolific voiceover talents in modern animation.
Carrying Forward the Mel Blanc Legacy in Modern Animation
Born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto, Bauza initially relocated to Hollywood to work as a character designer in animation production departments. His early credits included contributing to projects like Good Vibe and El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera before landing his first credited acting role in the 2001 series The Ripping Friends. Over a 15-year tenure with Warner Bros. Animation, Bauza stepped into roles originally defined by Mel Blanc, mastering the distinct cadences of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Road Runner, and Marvin the Martian.
His versatility extended far beyond the Looney Tunes universe. Bauza’s expansive resume included voicing Stimpy in Ren & Stimpy “Adult Party Cartoon,” the animated Luke Skywalker, Puss in Boots, Donatello and Leonardo, Robert “Big Bob” Belcher, and Woody Woodpecker. Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks Chairman Channing Dungey noted in a public statement that Bauza followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc and considered carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy among the greatest honors of his life.
Critical Acclaim and Prolific Output Across Studios
Peter Debruge, reviewing the 2024 feature The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie for Variety, singled out Bauza as a vocal MVP who brought manic energy to Porky Pig and Daffy Duck. His work earned widespread peer recognition, including five Daytime Emmy nominations and three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for programs like Teen Titans Go!, Bugs Bunny Builders, and Looney Tunes Cartoons.
The sheer breadth of his casting made him ubiquitous across competing networks and franchises. From Marvel animation projects like Iron Man: Armored Adventures to DC properties including Justice League: Gods & Monsters and Batman Ninja, Bauza maintained active pipelines across multiple studios. In 2026 alone, his vocal work appeared in Chibiverse, Minions & Monsters, Forgotten Island, Rick and Morty, Superkitties, and Avatar: Seven Havens.
| Project / Era | Key Characters Voiced | Accolades & Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Looney Tunes Franchise | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn | Children’s & Family Emmy Award Winner; 15-year Warner Bros. tenure |
| Television & Series Work | Stimpy, Puss in Boots, Donatello, Leonardo, Two-Face | Over 400 acting credits spanning 2001 to 2026 |
| Recent Feature Releases | Roles across Coyote vs. Acme and Forgotten Island | Featured on The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Animation Power list |
Producer Chris DeFaria Remembers Bauza
Chris DeFaria, producer of the theatrical film Coyote vs. Acme, remembered Bauza for his tireless dedication to the animation art form, noting that he embodied the movie’s central theme that a little guy can make a difference in the world.
Family members announced his death via a statement shared on Bauza’s Instagram account on Sunday, indicating that further details would follow.
Eric Bauza has passed away at the age of 46The modern voice actor of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck alongside many other beloved cartoon characters pic.twitter.com/nGTjoHvVvX
More on Daffy Duck
Voice actor Eric Bauza, of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at age 46, his family says.The medical examiner says he died of a heart disease. pic.twitter.com/GxVKtcC2uQ
