Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor known for bringing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes characters to life for a new generation, has died at the age of 46. His family announced his sudden passing in a statement shared on his Instagram account on October 25, 2026. Bauza’s death marks the loss of a performer whose career extended well beyond one animation franchise, with more than 400 acting credits across television and film.
Born in Scarborough, Toronto, Eric Bauza grew up watching classic cartoons, particularly Looney Tunes, which his father and grandfather introduced him to. He recalled watching the characters in syndication during the 1990s and identified Mel Blanc, the original voice behind many of the franchise’s most recognisable figures, as a major influence. Bauza understood these characters not simply as familiar voices, but as distinct personalities that audiences had known and loved for generations. That early connection would eventually shape the direction of his career.
His journey into voice acting began behind the scenes. After studying radio, television and film production in Toronto, Bauza entered the animation industry through an internship in Los Angeles. He initially worked as a cartoonist and character designer before moving into layout work for productions including The Brave Little Toaster and Ren & Stimpy. These early experiences gave him an understanding of how animated characters were created and brought to the screen. While working alongside animators, he regularly practised impressions and experimented with different voices. Opportunities to record temporary dialogue and audition for roles gradually opened the door to voice acting.
Bauza’s association with Looney Tunes developed over time rather than beginning with the franchise’s most iconic character. He first auditioned for Bugs Bunny but was instead cast as Marvin the Martian, a character he began voicing in 2009. He subsequently took on additional roles, including Pepé Le Pew, before getting the opportunity to voice Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety in Looney Tunes Cartoons. He went on to portray several other key characters, including Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Road Runner and Sylvester.
Taking on characters whose voices had been established by Mel Blanc placed Bauza in a distinctive position. His performances carried forward a legacy familiar to generations of viewers while introducing these animated figures to contemporary audiences. His understanding of the characters, developed through years of watching and studying classic cartoons, became an important part of his approach to the work.
The role brought him some of the biggest recognition of his career. Bauza won three Children’s and Family Emmy Awards for his voice performances in Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!, with wins in 2022, 2023 and 2025. He also received nominations for The Adventures of Puss in Boots and Muppet Babies. These honours recognised his work across different animation projects and reflected the range of his contributions to television.
Away from Looney Tunes, Bauza built an extensive body of work across television and film. His television credits included Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Fairly OddParents, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Powerpuff Girls, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Rick and Morty, X-Men ’97 and The Adventures of Puss in Boots. He also voiced Baby Fozzie in Muppet Babies and Woody Woodpecker in the character’s feature films.
His big-screen credits included Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Book of Life, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. These projects demonstrate how his voice work extended across several established animation properties, reaching audiences through different characters, styles and franchises. While Looney Tunes remained central to his public identity, his filmography reflected a career that was not confined to a single set of characters.
In 2026, Bauza continued working across major animation projects, including Coyote vs. Acme and Forgotten Island. His performance as both Porky Pig and Daffy Duck in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie also placed him at the centre of the franchise’s recent return to cinemas. The film gave audiences another opportunity to hear him perform two of the characters most closely associated with his career.
Following his death, Warner Bros. recognised his 15-year association with Warner Bros. Animation and his contribution to the Looney Tunes characters. The studio said he brought joy to audiences around the world and noted that carrying on the franchise’s legacy had been one of the greatest honours of his life. His manager, Judy Coppage, also described his passing as a profound loss for his family, colleagues and fans.
Eric Bauza’s career reflected a combination of artistic understanding and vocal performance. Having started by drawing animated characters before giving them their voices, he brought an appreciation of their expressions, timing and personalities to the recording booth. His experience on the creative side of animation informed the work he later did as a performer, allowing him to approach characters with an understanding that extended beyond their voices.
His contribution to animation went beyond continuing the legacy of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes favourites. His work across television and cinema demonstrated the range of a performer whose voice became part of several familiar animated worlds. For audiences who grew up watching these characters, Bauza helped keep them present for another generation, while building a career that reached far beyond the franchise that first made him widely recognised.
