46-Year-Old Eric Bauza, Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies of Sudden Illness

Eric Bauza, the voice actor behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, has died at age 46. His family announced the news on Instagram, stating that the performer died suddenly. Variety reported that the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that he passed away at his home on Sunday.

Bauza was born in Ontario and was of Filipino descent. He grew up as a fan of Looney Tunes and imitated the characters' voices as a child. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he noted that the cartoons appeal to a global audience. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he said. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."

His recent work included voicing several characters in the animated film Coyote vs. Acme, which was released earlier this year. He also appeared in the recent release Forgotten Island. In 2021, Bauza voiced Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in Space Jam: A New Legacy. He returned to those roles in Coyote vs. Acme, where he also voiced the Road Runner.

Bauza expanded his voice acting career beyond the Looney Tunes universe. He voiced Toad General in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie. He reprised the role in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is currently the fifth highest-grossing film internationally this year.

From 2022 to 2025, Bauza won three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance across various television series. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, paid tribute to him. "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world," she said.

Dungey added that Bauza followed in the footsteps of Mel Blanc. "Eric said that carrying on the legendary legacy of the Looney Tunes was among the greatest honors of his life," she noted.