Animation Loss: Eric Bauza, Voice of Bugs Bunny, Dies at 46

Fans of animated classics lost a familiar voice this week. Eric Bauza, the actor behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, has died at the age of 46. His family announced the news on Instagram, describing his passing as sudden.

Variety reported that Bauza died at his home on Sunday from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. He was born in Ontario and identified as being of Filipino descent. Throughout his career, he became known for his ability to bring distinct personalities to long-running cartoon characters, a skill that earned him critical acclaim.

Bauza recently voiced several characters in the summer animated film Coyote vs. Acme. He also appeared in the recent release Forgotten Island. Prior to these projects, he reprised his roles as Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, and the Road Runner in the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy. He also provided the voice for Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel, which became the fifth highest-grossing film internationally this year.

His work earned him three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance between 2022 and 2025. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, Bauza described his childhood habit of copying the voices he heard on television. He noted that Looney Tunes transcends language barriers, stating that the comedy is accessible to viewers from any part of the planet.

Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, commented on the loss in a statement reported by the Hollywood Reporter. She described Bauza as a unique voice talent who brought joy to millions. She noted that Bauza viewed carrying on the legacy of Looney Tunes as one of the greatest honors of his life, following in the footsteps of legendary actors like Mel Blanc.