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

Eric Bauza, the voice actor who brought Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig to life, has died at the age of 46.

His family announced the news in a statement on Instagram, saying the Emmy-winning performer had died "suddenly". Variety reported that the cause was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that he died at home on Sunday.

Bauza had recently voiced a number of characters in Coyote vs. Acme, the animated hit released this summer. He also appeared in the recent release Forgotten Island.

Born in Ontario and of Filipino descent, Bauza grew up as a devoted fan of the Looney Tunes and imitated the characters' voices as a child. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he spoke about the appeal of the cartoons. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he said. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."

His Looney Tunes work reached a wide audience in 2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy, where he voiced Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn. He returned to those roles in Coyote vs. Acme, in which he also played Road Runner.

Outside the Looney Tunes universe, Bauza played Toad General in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie and in its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is the fifth highest-grossing film internationally this year.

Between 2022 and 2025, he won three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance across a number of TV series.

Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, paid tribute in a statement reported by the Hollywood Reporter. "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world," she said. "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."