Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny, dies aged 46

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice artist who brought beloved Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig to life, has died at the age of 46 ^[1]. According to reports, the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and he passed away at home on Sunday. A family statement shared on Instagram described his death as sudden.

Bauza recently provided voices for the summer release Coyote vs. Acme and the film Forgotten Island ^[1]. He also voiced Toad General in both The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which ranked as the fifth highest-grossing film internationally in 2026.

Between 2022 and 2025, he earned three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance in animated television series ^[1]. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, Bauza, born in Ontario and of Filipino descent, shared that he was a devoted fan of Looney Tunes as a child and often imitated the characters’ voices. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he said, emphasizing that the humor resonated universally.

He reprised his roles as Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy and continued those performances in Coyote vs. Acme ^[1]. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, honored Bauza as a "unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions" and noted that he regarded carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy as one of the greatest honors of his life.

Bauza’s passing marks a significant loss in the world of animation voice acting, continuing a tradition established by legendary performer Mel Blanc ^[1]. The story was first reported by BBC News.