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

Eric Bauza, the voice artist behind iconic Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, has passed away at the age of 46.

A statement released by his family on Instagram announced that he died “suddenly” at his home on Sunday. The cause of death was reported as hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Bauza, who was born in Ontario and was of Filipino descent, was a lifelong fan of the Looney Tunes franchise, often mimicking the voices of his favorite characters as a child. “Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures,” he once noted. “It doesn’t matter what part of the planet you’re from. You get the comedy.”

His recent work included voicing several iconic characters in the animated feature Coyote vs. Acme, as well as appearing in the recent release Forgotten Island. He also lent his voice as the Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and its sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which became one of the highest-grossing films internationally this year.

Before his untimely passing, Bauza voiced Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy, reprising those roles along with Road Runner in Coyote vs. Acme.

Between 2022 and 2025, he won three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance across various television series, cementing his status as one of the most talented voice actors of his generation.

In a tribute reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Channing Dungey, Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, praised Bauza’s unique talent: “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.”

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