For millions of people, his face may not have been instantly recognizable.
But the moment he opened his mouth, chances are you knew exactly who he was.
Eric Bauza spent years bringing some of the most famous cartoon characters in history to life, entertaining both children and adults with voices that have been part of pop culture for generations.
Now, the animation world is mourning his sudden death at just 46 years old.
The voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck
Bauza’s family announced the heartbreaking news on Sunday, October 25, writing that the Emmy-winning voice actor had “passed away suddenly.”
“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.”
And those two names only begin to explain just how many familiar characters were hiding behind Bauza’s voice.
Bauza became one of the modern voices behind the legendary Looney Tunes universe, taking on the enormous responsibility of portraying characters that had been loved for generations.
His credits included Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Road Runner and several others.
It was a remarkable position for someone who had grown up loving those very cartoons.
One of the busiest voice performers
Born in Toronto on December 7, 1979, to Filipino immigrant parents, Eric Bauza grew up surrounded by the cartoons that would eventually shape his career. His father and grandfather introduced him to Looney Tunes at a young age, sparking a love for animation that stayed with him throughout his life.
But interestingly, he didn’t initially set out to become the man behind the microphone.
Bauza began his career in animation as a character designer before his talent for voices eventually took him in another direction.
And once it did, there was seemingly no stopping him.
Over a career spanning more than two decades, Bauza accumulated hundreds of acting credits and became one of the busiest voice performers in the industry.
Growing up in Toronto, he looked up to names like Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, John Candy, Eugene Levy and Russell Peters — performers who helped shape his own sense of what was funny long before he became a star himself.
“These are basically people that raised me comedy-wise,” Bauza once said.
Far more than Looney Tunes
Although Bugs and Daffy may have become his most recognizable roles, Bauza’s voice could be heard across countless animated shows and movies.
He played Puss in Boots in The Adventures of Puss in Boots and Baby Fozzie in Muppet Babies, while also lending his voice to characters from the DC and Marvel universes.
His work included appearances in Teen Titans Go!, Space Jam: A New Legacy and numerous other animated productions.
More recently, Bauza voiced several characters in Coyote vs. Acme, once again putting his extraordinary range on display.
His work also earned him some of the animation industry’s biggest honors.
Between 2022 and 2025, Bauza won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for his performances in Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!
But perhaps the greatest honor was being trusted with characters whose voices had been made legendary by Mel Blanc decades earlier.
Warner Bros. Television Group and U.S. Networks chairman Channing Dungey described Bauza as a “unique voice talent” who brought happiness to millions and noted that he had followed in the footsteps of animation giants such as Blanc.
Eric Bauza’s cause of death
While his family’s initial announcement did not reveal how Bauza died, further information emerged shortly afterward.
According to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records cited by Variety, Bauza died at his home on Sunday from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. He was only 46.
His death came while his career was still very much moving forward.
At the time of his passing, Bauza was reportedly in pre-production on two more projects, including Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical, where he was set to once again voice Daffy Duck.
For someone whose career was built largely out of sight, Eric Bauza left behind something millions of people will instantly recognize.
His voice.
Whether you knew him as Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Tweety, Puss in Boots or one of the countless other characters he brought to life, Bauza became part of the soundtrack of childhood for a generation of fans.
And at only 46 years old, his final “That’s all, folks” came far too soon.
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