Eric Bauza (1979–2026): Voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and More
Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor who became one of the leading modern performers of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died on 25 October 2026 at the age of 46. His family announced his death on Instagram, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner recorded the cause as hypertensive cardiovascular disease. In a career that took in more than 400 voice credits, he worked on both classic cartoon characters and new ones.
From Scarborough to animation
Bauza was born on 7 December 1979 in Scarborough, Ontario. He grew up copying the voices he heard on children's television, and his parents were his first audience. He has said that Looney Tunes cartoons were a bond between his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather.
His route into the industry began behind the scenes. As a college student he interned at the animation studio Spümcø. He then worked as a production assistant on The Ripping Friends, which also gave him his first voice role. From there he moved to Los Angeles and built a career as a character performer.
Stepping into Mel Blanc's shoes
Bauza is best known for voicing characters first created by Mel Blanc. He said it took two auditions to win the part of Bugs Bunny, and that his method was to study the classic cartoons closely. He often described Bugs as the calm, cool one in any room. In later interviews he said that, with age, he felt more like Daffy Duck.
He was heard as Bugs, Daffy, Porky Pig, Tweety, Marvin the Martian and others in Looney Tunes Cartoons, which began in 2020. He told NBC News in 2021 that he was the first person of colour to voice Bugs Bunny, and that the Asian American community had responded warmly.
On the big screen
His film work grew steadily. He was first brought onto Space Jam: A New Legacy to trade temporary lines with LeBron James. He was then cast in the finished film, voicing Daffy, Porky, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd and Marvin the Martian.
Both The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie and Coyote vs. Acme reached cinemas through Ketchup Entertainment. In the latter, released this August, he voiced Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, Elmer, Foghorn, Porky, Road Runner and Charlie the Dog.
Life beyond Looney Tunes
Bauza's range was wide. His television work included The Looney Tunes Show, SpongeBob SquarePants, Bob's Burgers, Teen Titans Go!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar: The Last Airbender. He voiced Woody Woodpecker, played Puss in Boots in a series about the character, and was Baby Fozzie in Muppet Babies. He also voiced Mastermold in X-Men '97.
He also worked on camera. He spent a short time as a late-night talk-show host and appeared on game shows, where he performed his Looney Tunes voices.
Awards and recognition
Bauza was nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards, including for Looney Tunes Cartoons, Muppet Babies and The Adventures of Puss in Boots. He won three Children's & Family Emmy Awards, for Teen Titans Go!, Bugs Bunny Builders and Looney Tunes Cartoons. His win for the last of these was the first ever given for outstanding voice performance in an animated programme.
Selected credits, newest first
| Title | Year | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote vs. Acme | 2026 | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety and more |
| The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie | 2025 | Daffy Duck, Porky Pig |
| X-Men '97 | 2024 | Mastermold |
| Bugs Bunny Builders | 2022 | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck |
| Space Jam: A New Legacy | 2021 | Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian |
| Looney Tunes Cartoons | 2020 | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian |
| The Looney Tunes Show | 2011 | Marvin the Martian |
Final projects
Several roles are still to come. He recorded two characters for The Simpsons, in an episode called "Dream Scenari-Moe" that is due on Fox on 15 November. He also voices the short Daffy Season, which will play in cinemas before The Cat in the Hat.
At the time of his death he was in pre-production on Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical, as Daffy Duck, and on The Dragon Masters, as the Shogun King.
Remembered by colleagues
Tributes have come from across the industry. Alex Kirwan, a producer on Looney Tunes Cartoons, told The Hollywood Reporter that others can do the voices but "you can't replace Eric Bauza." Actor Jack Quaid called him one of the kindest people he had met, and voice actor Matthew Mercer praised his generosity and talent.
His family said he regarded carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy as one of the great honours of his life. For many viewers, his voice was the one that introduced them to Bugs, Daffy and Porky.