Award-winning modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Eric Bauza, dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the modern voice behind characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at 46. Born in 1979 in Toronto, Bauza lived in Los Angeles at the time of his death. When and why exactly he passed away is unknown.

Bauza began his career in animation as a character designer at a few select Hollywood studios. From there, he ventured into voice acting and soon became one of the most in-demand voice actors. He’s voiced some of the most-loved characters in history and has won several awards for his work.

Bauza’s family shared news of his death on social media

Bauza’s family shared the news of his passing on his social media in a statement that read, “Eric Bauza, Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters, has passed away suddenly. More details to come.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the president and chief creative officer of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Bill Damaschke, and the chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and U.S. Networks, Channing Dungey, released a joint statement after the news of Bauza’s death broke.

The statement said, “Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world. During his 15 years at Warner Bros. Animation, he was the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among countless other characters. 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. In addition to his incredible talent, Eric was a treasured part of our animation family. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.”

Bauza had numerous credits to his name

Most recently, Bauza voiced Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Road Runner, and more in Coyote vs. Acme (which he released the first image for in 2024). He won the first-ever Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program in 2022 for his work in Looney Tunes Cartoons. He also won the same award again in 2024 for Teen Titans Go!.

Other highlights of his career include voicing Aquaman, Stimpy, animated Luke Skywalker, Robert “Big Bob” Belcher, and animated Jason Bourne. He also lent his voice to projects including Phineas and Ferb, Rick and Morty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lego Star Wars, and The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.

When asked whether he knew as a child that he wanted to grow up to have a career in animation in an interview with Animation Magazine last year, Bauza replied, “I think cartoons were always my guardian angel and guiding light for the most part. They were always something that I could turn to to make people laugh and to entertain myself […] It all comes back to this film: That’s why we honor these legends of animation. They allowed us to do what we do.”

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