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

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor who brought iconic cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to life, has died at the age of 46.

According to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Bauza passed away on Sunday from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His family stated that his death was sudden.

Bauza built a prolific career in animation, lending his voice to hundreds of characters for major entertainment studios, including Disney, DreamWorks, and Cartoon Network.

He was widely celebrated for voicing several key figures in the Looney Tunes franchise, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn. His extensive voice-acting portfolio also included The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Muppet Babies.

Additionally, he voiced the title character in the animated film Woody Woodpecker and played Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Before transitioning into full-time voice acting, Bauza worked as a character designer in Hollywood. He went on to become one of the industry’s most acclaimed talents, earning multiple Children's & Family Emmy Awards. In 2022, he won the Emmy for Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program for his work on Looney Tunes Cartoons, followed by subsequent Emmy wins in 2023 and 2025.

Following news of his death, colleagues and industry peers paid tribute to his legacy. Jim Cummings, the voice actor behind Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and the Tasmanian Devil, described Bauza as "such a kind young man," adding that he was at a loss for words.

Animation director Adam Rosette also expressed his grief, recalling their early friendship when they worked together at a small studio in Los Angeles and praising Bauza’s remarkable journey from character designer to celebrated voice actor.

Bauza’s legendary voice work brought beloved characters to life for generations of fans, leaving an indelible mark on the animation industry.