Eric Bauza, the prolific and versatile voice actor who brought a modern vitality to legendary “Looney Tunes” icons including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, has died. He was 46.
Bauza’s family shared the news in a statement posted to his official Instagram page on Monday, revealing that the performer passed away suddenly on Sunday. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed that Bauza died at his residence and identified the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
A three-time Emmy Award winner between 2022 and 2025, Bauza was widely regarded as the definitive contemporary voice for the Warner Bros. animation stable. His repertoire extended far beyond the lead characters, encompassing a wide range of fan favorites including Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and Tweety.
Judy Coppage, Bauza’s manager, described him as a unique talent who was deeply respected by his peers and fans alike. In a statement, she noted that his sudden passing was a shock to those who worked with him. “The pleasure of watching him succeed and excel to become one of the most accomplished voices in animation was rewarding and thrilling,” Coppage said, calling the loss a profound blow to the animation industry.
Bauza’s career was marked by a historic milestone: he was the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny. As a Canadian-American of Filipino descent, Bauza frequently spoke about the cultural weight of his role and the encouragement he received from the Asian American community. He believed the humor of “Looney Tunes” was universal, once remarking that the characters transcend languages and cultures because people across the planet “get the comedy.”
The actor’s journey into animation was rooted in his childhood. Growing up as a dedicated fan of the classic shorts, he often recounted how the cartoons served as a bond between his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather. He developed his craft through an obsessive attention to detail, spending years mimicking the distinct cadences of the characters he would eventually inherit professionally.
In recent years, Bauza’s work reached global audiences through major theatrical releases. He provided voices for 2021’s “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and appeared in the 2023 hit “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” More recently, he voiced Daffy Duck in “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” and took on the role of Wile E. Coyote in the 2026 production “Coyote vs. Acme.”
His versatility extended to many other major franchises as well. Bauza’s extensive credits included voicing Stimpy Cat in “Ren & Stimpy,” Foop in “The Fairly OddParents,” Fozzie Bear in “Muppet Babies,” and the Beagle Boys in the reboot of “DuckTales.”
The animation community has expressed deep mourning for a performer who balanced technical precision with a deep reverence for the history of his craft. Bauza often said that his persistence and mimicry formed the foundation of his career, allowing him to honor the legacy of the characters while keeping them relevant for new generations.
