Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor who became the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at the age of 46. His family confirmed the news in a statement posted on his official Instagram account on Sunday, October 25, 2026, saying he passed away suddenly. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later listed the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with the manner of death recorded as natural.
The actor was found unresponsive at his home in Los Angeles. He was just 46 years old and had been working steadily across film, television, and video games for more than two decades.
A Career That Gave a Voice to Legends
Bauza was born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto, to Filipino immigrant parents. He started in the animation business as a character designer before moving in front of the microphone. His first credited voice role came in 2001 on the Canadian animated series The Ripping Friends.
Over the next 25 years, he built one of the most packed resumes in the voice-acting world, with more than 400 acting credits across cartoons, movies, and games. He worked on shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Chowder, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Ben 10: Omniverse, Rick and Morty, and The Adventures of Puss in Boots.
His biggest mark came when he stepped into the shoes of the legendary Mel Blanc as the modern voice of the Looney Tunes. Bauza voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, and many others. He first took on Bugs Bunny in 2018 and made his official debut in the HBO series Looney Tunes Cartoons in 2020.
His Looney Tunes work also carried over to the big screen. He voiced multiple characters in 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy and returned for the 2026 animated hit Coyote vs. Acme. Outside of Looney Tunes, he played the Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel.
The Family Statement and the Sudden Loss
The family’s Instagram post was brief and asked for space while they process the loss. The statement read:
“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 post did not share a cause of death at the time, but the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s online record confirmed hypertensive cardiovascular disease as the cause, with sleep apnea and Class 2 obesity listed as other significant conditions.
Bauza had been active in the days before his death. He posted a photo on Facebook from the LightBox Expo in Pasadena on Saturday, just one day before he passed away. He was also scheduled to attend the Sunday premiere of The Cat in the Hat to support a short film tied to the Daffy Duck character, according to press materials.
Colleagues and the Animation World Pay Tribute
Tributes poured in from across the animation industry. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, where Bauza worked for 15 years, released a statement highlighting his impact.
“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.”
Chris DeFaria, a producer on Coyote vs. Acme, told Variety that Bauza brought a special energy to the film.
“He embodied everything we wanted from this film, including the major theme of the movie that a little guy can make a difference in this world.”
Fellow voice actors also shared their grief. Vincent Martella, known for Phineas and Ferb, wrote on social media:
“I’m in complete shock and disbelief. A tremendously talented and kind coworker who I always had great conversations with and learned from. He was a giant. A titan in our industry.”
Jim Cummings, the voice behind Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, kept his message short and heavy with emotion:
“I am at a loss for words. Such a young kind man.”
Grey DeLisle called him “one of the most talented, kind, funny, generous souls” in a comment on the family’s Instagram post. Writer and director Jorge Gutierrez wrote, “He just made everything he worked on better. A generational talent”.
Three Emmys and a Place in Animation History
Bauza’s work earned him serious recognition. He won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance. His first win came in 2022 at the inaugural Children’s and Family Emmy Awards for Looney Tunes Cartoons. He won again in 2023 for Bugs Bunny Builders and in 2025 for Teen Titans Go!.
He also received five Daytime Emmy nominations for his roles in Looney Tunes Cartoons, Muppet Babies, and The Adventures of Puss in Boots.
At the time of his death, Bauza was working on two upcoming projects. He was set to voice Daffy Duck in Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical and had been cast as the Shogun King in The Dragon Masters.
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A Voice That Crossed Cultures
Bauza often spoke about what the Looney Tunes meant to him, both as a fan and as a Filipino-Canadian performer. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he explained why the characters connect with people everywhere.
“Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures. It doesn’t matter what part of the planet you’re from. You get the comedy.”
That idea, that laughter needs no translation, is part of why his work reached so many homes. He grew up copying the voices of the characters he would one day play, and he carried that childhood love into every recording booth he entered.
Bauza is survived by his family, including one child, according to his IMDb biography.
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