Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies at 46

Emmy-winning voice artist died suddenly, family says

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Updated26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice artist behind Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, has died aged 46. His family said he died "suddenly," and Variety reported the cause was hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with Bauza dying at home on Sunday.

A statement posted to Instagram by the family of the Emmy award-winning star said he had died "suddenly."

Bauza voiced a number of characters in this summer's animated hit Coyote vs. Acme and appeared in the recent release Forgotten Island. He voiced Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn in 2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy before reprising those roles and that of Road Runner in Coyote vs. Acme. He also played Toad General in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the fifth highest-grossing film internationally this year.

Born in Ontario and of Filipino descent, Bauza said in a 2021 interview with NBC News that he grew up a huge fan of the Looney Tunes characters and used to copy the voices as a child. "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."

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

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

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Bauza carried the voice legacy of Looney Tunes characters beloved by audiences worldwide, and his death leaves those roles without their recent interpreter.
His work appeared in major releases this year, including Coyote vs. Acme and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, giving his death immediate relevance to current animation.
The response from Warner Bros. and the future handling of the characters will shape how the Looney Tunes franchise continues.

Background

Looney Tunes characters were made famous by Mel Blanc, and Bauza was widely seen as carrying on that tradition in recent films and TV series. He voiced multiple iconic characters across Space Jam: A New Legacy, Coyote vs. Acme and other productions.

Key Perspectives

Family: Said he died "suddenly" in a statement posted to Instagram. Variety: Reported that the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that Bauza died at home on Sunday. Channing Dungey, Warner Bros. Television Group chairman: Called Bauza "a unique voice talent" who followed in the footsteps of Mel Blanc and treated the Looney Tunes legacy as among the greatest honors of his life. Eric Bauza: Said in 2021 that "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures."

What to Watch

Whether Warner Bros. announces who will voice the Looney Tunes characters going forward.
Tributes from colleagues and fans across the animation industry.
Any upcoming releases that feature Bauza's recorded performances.

Sources

Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies aged 46 · BBC News
Eric Bauza, the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies aged 46 · Euronews
Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies aged 46 · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedEric Bauza was the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.BBC News: “Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies aged 46.”
SupportedBauza died aged 46.BBC News: “Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies aged 46.”
SupportedBauza was an Emmy-winning voice artist.BBC News: “Eric Bauza, the voice artist behind Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, has died aged 46. A statement from the Emmy award-winning star”
SupportedBauza's family said he died “suddenly.”BBC News: “A statement from the Emmy award-winning star's family posted on Instagram, external said he had died “suddenly”.”
SupportedVariety reported that the cause of Bauza's death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease.BBC News: “Variety reports that the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that Bauza died at home on Sunday.”
SupportedVariety reported that Bauza died at home on Sunday.BBC News: “Variety reports that the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that Bauza died at home on Sunday.”
SupportedIn a 2021 NBC News interview, Bauza said: “Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures. It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy.”BBC News: “In a 2021 interview with NBC News, Bauza, who was born in Ontario and was of Filipino descent, said he grew up a huge fan of the Looney Tunes characters and used to copy the voices as a child. “Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures,” he said, external . “It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy.””
SupportedChanning Dungey said Bauza was “a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world” and followed “in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc”; she also attributed to Bauza the statement that carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy was among his greatest honors.BBC News: ““Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world. “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.””
SupportedThe family statement was posted on Instagram.BBC News: “A statement from the Emmy award-winning star's family posted on Instagram, external said he had died “suddenly”.”
SupportedBauza voiced a number of characters in this summer's animated hit Coyote vs. Acme.BBC News: “Bauza had voiced a number of characters in this summer's animated hit Coyote vs. Acme, and appeared in the recent release Forgotten Island.”
SupportedBauza won three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance between 2022 and 2025.BBC News: “Between 2022 and 2025, he won three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance in a number of TV series.”
SupportedThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie was the fifth highest-grossing film internationally that year.BBC News: “He also played the part of Toad General in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the fifth highest-grossing film internationally this year.”