Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor who brought Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes characters to life, died Sunday at 46. His family said in a statement posted to Instagram that his death was sudden.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Bauza died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, CBS News reported. The BBC, citing Variety, reported that he died at home.

“Eric was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with,” his manager, Judy Coppage, told CBS News. “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.” His family said more details would follow.

Bauza voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, along with a long roster of other Looney Tunes characters. CBS News listed Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety Bird and Road Runner among his roles. In 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy, he voiced Daffy, Porky, Elmer and Foghorn. He later reprised those roles and voiced Road Runner in Coyote vs. Acme, according to the BBC.

Born in Ontario and of Filipino descent, Bauza grew up copying Looney Tunes voices, he told NBC News in a 2021 interview cited by the BBC. “Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what part of the planet you’re from. You get the comedy.”

His work extended far beyond those characters. CBS News said his IMDb page listed more than 400 acting credits, including voice work on Avatar: The Last Airbender, Puss in Boots, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Woody Woodpecker, Bob’s Burgers and Teen Titans Go! The BBC reported that he also played Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and appeared in the recent release Forgotten Island.

Bauza won Children’s and Family Emmy Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and was nominated again in 2026, according to CBS News. He also received five Daytime Emmy nominations from 2016 to 2021.

Speaking to CBS LA about Coyote vs. Acme, Bauza credited original Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc as the “blueprint” for his performances. “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,” he said. Bauza said Bugs was his favorite character to voice, though as he got older, he felt more like Daffy.

Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, said in a statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter that Bauza “brought joy and laughter to millions around the world.” Bauza, she said, considered carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy “among the greatest honors of his life.”