Eric Bauza, the acclaimed performer behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died at his Los Angeles home at age 46.
LOS ANGELES — Emmy-winning voice actor Eric Bauza, known for bringing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other classic Looney Tunes characters to modern audiences, died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. He was 46.
Bauza died at his Los Angeles home Sunday, Oct. 25, after his family announced that he had died suddenly. The medical examiner classified his death as natural. Records also listed sleep apnea and class 2 obesity as significant contributing conditions. His death brought an abrupt end to a career that included hundreds of film and television credits and made him one of the most recognizable voice performers working in animation.
Bauza became closely associated with Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes franchise, performing the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Road Runner and other characters. His work appeared in productions including “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” and “Coyote vs. Acme.”
Warner Bros. Television Group and U.S. Networks Chairman Channing Dungey said Bauza brought laughter to millions during his 15 years working with Warner Bros. Animation. Dungey said Bauza followed performers such as Mel Blanc, whose voices helped define the Looney Tunes characters for generations, and considered continuing that legacy one of the greatest honors of his career.
Bauza’s work extended well beyond Looney Tunes. His credits included projects connected to “Rick and Morty,” “Teen Titans Go!,” “Muppet Babies,” “The Fairly OddParents,” “The Adventures of Puss in Boots,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and numerous other animated productions. Variety reported that Bauza accumulated more than 400 acting credits after beginning his professional career in the early 2000s.
His performances also earned major industry recognition. Bauza won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for work on “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” “Bugs Bunny Builders” and “Teen Titans Go!” He received additional Emmy nominations during a career in which he became known for both original characters and his ability to carry forward the voices of long-established animated figures.
Born Dec. 7, 1979, in Toronto, Bauza grew up in Scarborough, Ontario. Before becoming a full-time voice actor, he worked in animation production and character design. He later moved into voice performance and developed a career that spanned television, feature films, streaming productions and video games. His ability to perform multiple characters within the same production became a defining part of his work.
Bauza remained professionally active through 2026. He appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of “Coyote vs. Acme” in August and continued contributing voices to several animated projects during the year. At the time of his death, Variety reported that he was connected to projects in pre-production, including “Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical” and “The Dragon Masters.”
Colleagues across the animation and entertainment industries shared tributes after his death was announced. “Coyote vs. Acme” producer Chris DeFaria praised Bauza’s dedication to animation and the impact he made on the film, while other actors and creators remembered his generosity and enthusiasm for the craft. His manager, Judy Coppage, also described his sudden death as a profound loss for his family, colleagues and fans.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s findings established hypertensive cardiovascular disease as Bauza’s cause of death and classified the manner as natural. His family had initially announced only that his death was sudden. No additional medical circumstances beyond those listed by the medical examiner had been publicly released as of Thursday.
Author note: Last updated October 29, 2026.