Eric Bauza, award-winning Looney Tunes voice actor, dies aged 46

Eric Bauza, award-winning Looney Tunes voice actor, dies aged 46

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Emmy-winning voice actor Eric Bauza, known as the modern voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and dozens of other iconic cartoon characters, has died at his home from hypertensive cardiovascular disease at the age of 46.

Medical Examiner Confirms Sudden Death at Age 46

Los Angeles County medical examiner records confirmed that the Canadian-born performer died Sunday at his home as a result of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The sudden passing of Eric Bauza was announced by his family through a statement shared on the actor’s Instagram account.

Eric was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with. His sudden passing is a shock to all of us, and he will be deeply missed. It’s a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans.

Carrying Forward the Blueprint Left by Mel Blanc

Born in Scarborough, Toronto, in 1979, Bauza spent 15 years working with Warner Bros. Animation. His career dated back to 2001 where he appeared in the TV series The Ripping Friends.

Looney Tunes voice actor Eric Bauza has died aged 46

Over his 25 year career, 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 and more. His extensive television portfolio also encompassed characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Fairly OddParents, Phineas and Ferb, Rick and Morty, Ultimate Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go!, The Tom and Jerry Show, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Lego Star Wars, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Powerpuff Girls, “Muppet Babies,” Star Trek: Lower Decks, “Krapopolis,” and “X-Men ’97.” Mystery Incorporated,” Fanboy & Chum Chum, and Ben 10 Omniverse. During his time on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, he voiced characters such as Tiger Claw, Hun, and Vic Fulci. Beyond television, he brought to life Puss in Boots from The Adventures in Boots, Splinter from the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Fozzie Bear from Muppet Babies, alongside roles as Stimpy, the animated Luke Skywalker, Bam-Bam Rubble, Donatello, Leonardo, the animated Jason Bourne, Robert “Big Bob” Belcher, Jimmy Pesto, Sr., Two-Face, Bane, Jimmy Olsen, and Aquaman.

Bauza emphasized the universal appeal of the characters he carried forward, noting that Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures and that comedy bridges every part of the planet.

He later shared similar sentiments during an appearance with CBS News in August:.

All of my work is based off of the original voiceover artist, the great Mel Blanc; he was the original. I like to call him the blueprint of these characters. They’re not just voices; these are personalities that we’ve been familiar with now for 90 years — it’s like your oldest family members. So, that’s my history with them.

A man in a dark suit with a close-cropped goatee smiles at a premiere
Photo: BBC

Voice Credits Span Studios and Emmy Awards Won

Over two decades in the industry, Bauza tallied hundreds of voice credits across Disney, DreamWorks, and Cartoon Network, voicing everything from Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, and Marvin the Martian to Puss in Boots, Woody Woodpecker, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie character Toad General.

His television work earned him Children’s and Family Emmy Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2025, while also earning a nomination in 2026, building upon five Daytime Emmy Award nominations from 2016 to 2021.

Earlier this year, he voiced characters in Rick and Morty, Superkitties, Minions & Monsters, Avatar: Seven Havens, Chibiverse, and Forgotten Island, while also appearing in the animated film Coyote vs. Acme after previously voicing Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy.

At the time of his passing, he was in pre-production on Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical.

Tributes From Warner Bros. and Colleagues

Channing Dungey, Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, praised his enduring legacy as tributes poured in across the entertainment world following the news.

Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world. 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.

Eric Bauza, the voice of Bugs Bunny and many other Looney Tunes characters, dies suddenly/#News #rip

Christopher DeFaria, producer of Coyote vs. Acme, told Variety that Bauza embodied the film’s core theme that small figures can make a profound difference, leaving an undeniable impact on the animation art form.

More on Eric Bauza

Emmy-Winning Looney Tunes Voice Legend Eric Bauza Dies at 46
Emmy Winning Voice Behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Eric Bauza Dies at 46

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