Eric Bauza, Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 46

Award-winning voice actor Eric Bauza, best known for voicing iconic cartoon characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, has died aged 46.

Bauza’s family announced his sudden death in a statement posted on his Instagram account. The announcement expressed the family’s grief as fans and colleagues mourned the loss of one of the leading voices behind the beloved Looney Tunes characters.

According to Variety, citing records from the Los Angeles County medical examiner, Bauza died at home on Sunday, 25 October, from hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Born in Scarborough, Toronto, in 1979, Bauza was of Filipino descent and developed an interest in cartoon characters from childhood. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he recalled growing up as a huge fan of Looney Tunes and imitating the characters’ voices when he was young.

He said the appeal of the cartoons crossed cultural and language boundaries, allowing audiences around the world to connect through comedy.

Over a career spanning more than two decades, Bauza became a prominent figure in animation, taking on roles previously associated with legendary voice actor Mel Blanc. His performances brought familiar characters to a new generation of viewers.

In the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy, Bauza voiced Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn, among other characters. He later reprised several of those roles and voiced Road Runner in Coyote vs. Acme, which was released earlier this year.

His work extended beyond Looney Tunes. Bauza voiced Toad General in the 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie and contributed to the animated sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. He also appeared in the recent animated release Forgotten Island.

Throughout his career, Bauza earned recognition for his versatility and ability to give distinctive personalities to animated characters. Between 2022 and 2025, he won three Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance for his work across television series, including Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!.

Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, paid tribute to the late actor in a statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Dungey described Bauza as a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions worldwide. She noted that he followed in the footsteps of Mel Blanc and regarded continuing the legacy of Looney Tunes as one of the greatest honours of his life.

Bauza’s death marks a significant loss for the animation industry, where his performances helped keep some of the world’s most recognisable cartoon characters alive for modern audiences.

His legacy will remain through the films, television programmes and characters he brought to life, as fans remember the voice behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and many other childhood favourites.