Eric Bauza, the actor who played Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other cartoon characters, dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning actor who played iconic “Looney Tunes” characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died Sunday, according to his manager. He was 46 years old.

“Eric was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with,” said Judy Coppage, Bauza’s manager. “His sudden passing is a shock to all of us, and we will miss him deeply. It is a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans.”

Bauza, born in Canada, died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

His family released a brief statement on their Instagram page, adding that more details would come later.

Bauza had over 400 acting credits listed on his IMDb page. In addition to voicing Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Bauza is credited with voicing other “Looney Tunes” characters such as Porky Pig, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety Bird and Road Runner. He also played characters in the latest film “Space Jam”, alongside LeBron James.

Beyond “Looney Tunes,” Bauza was known for his voice work on shows such as “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Puss in Boots,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Woody Woodpecker,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Teen Titans Go!”

A statement from the chairman of Warner Bros. Channing Dungey and Chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and CCO Bill Damaschke highlighted Bauza’s impact on the “Looney Tunes” franchise.

“Eric Bauza was a unique vocal talent who brought joy and laughter to millions of people around the world. During his 15 years at Warner Bros. Animation, he was the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among countless other characters. He followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc,” the release said. “Eric said carrying on the legendary legacy of Looney Tunes was one of the greatest honors of his life. In addition to his incredible talent, Eric was a treasured member of our animation family. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.”

Bauza won Children’s and Family Emmy Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and was nominated in 2026. He was also nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards from 2016 to 2021.

He joined CBS LA in August to discuss his latest film and the latest “Looney Tunes” installment, “Coyote vs. Acme.”

“All my work is based on the original voiceover artist, the great Mel Blanc; he was the original. I like to call him the blueprint for these characters,” Bauza said. “They’re not just voices; they’re personalities that we’ve known for 90 years now – they’re like the oldest members of your family. So that’s my story with them.”

Bauza said his favorite character was Bugs Bunny, but as he got older he felt more like Daffy Duck.