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Eric Bauza’s family announced the voice actor’s death in a statement posted to his Instagram account, describing him as an Emmy award-winning performer and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck along with dozens of other beloved cartoon figures. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that Bauza died at home from hypertensive cardiovascular disease with the manner of death listed as natural, Variety reported. The family indicated that additional details would be released later while tributes from across the animation industry began to emerge within hours of the announcement.
Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks Chairman Channing Dungey praised Bauza’s contributions in a statement, noting that he had spent 15 years at Warner Bros. Animation where he voiced Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among countless other characters. Dungey highlighted how Bauza followed in the footsteps of legends like Mel Blanc and had described carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy as one of the greatest honors of his life, according to the Warner Bros. release carried by Deadline. The executive added that Bauza brought joy and laughter to millions around the world and remained a treasured part of the animation family.
Bauza lent his voice to multiple characters in this year’s Coyote vs. Acme, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety and Road Runner, the Hollywood Reporter detailed. He also appeared as Toad General in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to the 2023 Super Mario Bros. film that ranked among the highest-grossing international releases of the year, and provided voices for the recent animated feature Forgotten Island. The actor’s credits exceeded 400 across film, television, video games and commercials during a career that began in 2000, according to industry profiles.
The Canadian performer, born in Scarborough, Ontario, secured three Children’s and Family Emmy Awards for outstanding voice performance in Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go, Guardian reviews of his work noted. He took on additional prominent roles such as Baby Fozzie in Muppet Babies and various characters in The Adventures of Puss in Boots, where he earned Daytime Emmy nominations. Bauza voiced characters in high-profile projects this year including Rick and Morty, Superkitties and Avatar: Seven Havens while preparing for upcoming titles like Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical that were in pre-production at the time of his passing.
In a 2021 NBC News interview, Bauza reflected on his childhood fascination with Looney Tunes, explaining that the characters transcend languages and cultures because the comedy resonates universally regardless of where viewers are from. The performer, who was of Filipino descent, had grown up imitating the voices and eventually succeeded Mel Blanc and other predecessors in official Warner Bros. productions. His manager Judy Coppage described him as a unique and versatile talent who was deeply loved by colleagues, telling NBC Los Angeles that his sudden passing represented a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans worldwide.
Bauza is survived by one child, according to biographical details that accompanied coverage of his death. The voice actor had also contributed to video games including Batman: Arkham City and voice work in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, expanding his reach beyond traditional animation. Statements from collaborators underscored the respect he earned for maintaining the spirit of classic characters while introducing them to new generations of audiences.
