Eric Bauza, the Emmy Award-winning voice actor who brought modern life to iconic Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at the age of 46. His family announced the sudden passing on Sunday, October 25, 2026, and official records confirmed he died at his home in Los Angeles County from hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
In a statement posted to Bauza’s Instagram account, his family wrote: “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 Los Angeles County Medical Examiner classified the death as natural. Bauza also had sleep apnea and class 2 obesity, according to records.
About the Voice Actor
Born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Bauza was of Filipino descent. His father and grandfather introduced him to classic cartoons, particularly the Looney Tunes, and he grew up imitating the characters’ voices.
He attended Cardinal Newman Catholic High School (now St. John Henry Newman) and graduated from Centennial College in 2000 with studies in radio, television, and film. He moved to the United States to pursue animation, interning at Spümcø and beginning as a character designer and production assistant before transitioning fully into voice acting.
Bauza’s career spanned more than two decades and included over 400 credits across television, film, and video games. He became one of the primary modern successors to Mel Blanc, the legendary “Man of a Thousand Voices” who originally defined many Looney Tunes characters. Over roughly 15 years with Warner Bros. Animation, Bauza voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, Road Runner, Pepé Le Pew, and others.
He performed these roles in series such as Looney Tunes Cartoons and Bugs Bunny Builders, as well as films including Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) and the 2026 release Coyote vs. Acme.
His versatility extended far beyond Warner Bros. properties. Bauza voiced Puss in Boots in The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Baby Fozzie in the Muppet Babies reboot, Splinter and other characters in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and its sequel. Additional credits included work on Teen Titans Go!, Rick and Morty, Avatar projects, The Fairly OddParents, Uncle Grandpa, Woody Woodpecker, and numerous other animated series and films. At the time of his death, he was in pre-production on Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical as Daffy Duck.
Bauza’s performances earned widespread recognition. He won three Children’s and Family Emmy Awards between 2022 and 2025 for outstanding voice work on Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders, and Teen Titans Go!. He also received multiple Daytime Emmy and Annie Award nominations.
Colleagues frequently praised both his technical skill and his kindness. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and U.S. Networks, said Bauza “was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world” and that carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy was among the greatest honors of his life. His manager, Judy Coppage, described him as “a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with,” calling his passing “a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans.”
Public Reaction
Fellow voice actors and industry professionals shared personal tributes. Jim Cummings, known for Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, called Bauza “such a kind young man.” Others recalled his generosity, humor, and the seamless way he stepped into classic roles while making them feel fresh for new audiences.
Fans noted that Bauza’s work helped introduce the Looney Tunes characters to a new generation through streaming series, theatrical films, and preschool programming.
Just a day before his death, Bauza had shared a photo from the LightBox Expo event in California alongside The Simpsons director David Silverman, underscoring how active he remained in the animation community. He was also scheduled to support a Daffy Duck short playing before the premiere of The Cat in the Hat.
Bauza leaves behind one son. His sudden death at 46 has prompted an outpouring of remembrance across social media and industry circles, highlighting both the breadth of his contributions and the personal warmth he brought to collaborative work.
In interviews over the years, Bauza often spoke of the universal appeal of the Looney Tunes, noting that the comedy transcends languages and cultures. Through his performances, he helped ensure that appeal continued for contemporary audiences.
As tributes continue, Bauza’s extensive body of work stands as a lasting record of a career spent keeping some of animation’s most enduring characters vibrant and relevant. From early production roles to Emmy-winning lead voices, he left a significant mark on the industry in a relatively short time.
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