Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor widely recognised for giving new life to classic Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at the age of 46. His family announced the news on Sunday evening, describing his passing as "sudden."
Public records obtained by Entertainment Weekly and released on Monday list the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner classified the death as natural. Bauza died at his home.
Career and credits
Bauza established himself as a versatile voice actor over more than two decades. He began in the industry as a production assistant in 2001 on The Ripping Friends, and went on to provide voices across a wide range of animated and video-game projects. His credits include work on Avatar: The Last Airbender projects, Golden Axe, Disney's Little Mermaid series Ariel, Spidey And His Amazing Friends, Rick and Morty and Bob's Burgers, among others.
Within the Looney Tunes canon, Bauza voiced a large roster of characters for contemporary productions. In addition to Bugs and Daffy, he performed as Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Porky Pig, Pepé Le Pew, Tweety, Road Runner and more. He supplied 11 characters in the feature Coyote vs. Acme, which opened in August.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 46 |
| Cause of death | Hypertensive cardiovascular disease (listed as natural) |
| Major franchises | Looney Tunes, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Disney's Little Mermaid, Rick and Morty, Bob's Burgers |
| Recent films | Coyote vs. Acme (11 characters), Forgotten Island (most recent released film) |
| Awards | Three Children's & Family Emmys |
Recognition and reactions
Bauza won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, honoured for his work on projects including Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!. The awards underscored his standing in contemporary animation, where he was often called upon to re-interpret and sustain much-loved characters for new audiences.
Messages from peers and collaborators appeared beneath the family announcement on Bauza’s social media. Actor Jack Quaid, who worked with him on Star Trek: Lower Decks-adjacent projects, wrote that Bauza had been an inspiration and an exemplary colleague.
"This is absolutely devastating. Had the honor of getting to know him over the years. I always looked up to him both as a voice actor and as a person. What an absolute legend and one of the kindest people I've ever met. Sending love to the entire family. We're gonna miss you, buddy."
Fellow voice actor and performer Nina West also paid tribute, describing Bauza as "one of the very best to ever do it." The family’s brief statement concluded with the words:
"More to come."
Legacy
For audiences who grew up with the loquacious rabbits and irascible ducks of classic animation, Bauza’s contributions represented a through line between venerable characters and 21st-century productions. His capacity to inhabit a wide array of voices — from slapstick antagonists to softer supporting roles — made him a distinctive figure in a niche yet culturally resonant craft.
His most recent film release, Forgotten Island, arrived in cinemas last month. Tributes and remembrances are expected to continue as colleagues, fans and studios reflect on a career that helped sustain some of animation’s most enduring personae.
- Age at death: 46
- Cause: hypertensive cardiovascular disease (natural)
- Notable work: modern voices for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes characters; three Children’s & Family Emmys
Further details on memorial arrangements or a fuller family statement were not available at the time of publication.
