Eric Bauza, Modern Voice of Bugs Bunny, Dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning performer whose voice helped carry Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Looney Tunes characters into a new generation, has died at 46. His family announced that he had died suddenly, while records cited by Variety listed hypertensive cardiovascular disease as the cause.

The Canadian-born actor built a career around one of animation’s hardest assignments: honoring voices audiences already knew by heart while making the performances feel alive rather than imitated. Over roughly 15 years with Warner Bros. Animation, Bauza became a central figure in the modern Looney Tunes ensemble. His credits included Bugs, Daffy, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety and Marvin the Martian across television, shorts and feature films.

A career that connected eras of animation

Bauza voiced several characters in Space Jam: A New Legacy and returned for Coyote vs. Acme. His work extended well beyond the Warner Bros. catalog: he also appeared as Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and accumulated credits across animated series, video games and franchise projects.

His performances earned three Emmy awards between 2022 and 2025, according to the BBC. That recognition reflected both his technical range and the unusual cultural responsibility attached to characters associated for decades with Mel Blanc. Bauza had spoken about growing up as a fan who copied the Looney Tunes voices, eventually turning that childhood fascination into the defining work of his career.

Warner Bros. remembers a singular talent

Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Channing Dungey said Bauza brought joy and laughter to millions and described him as a treasured member of the company’s animation family. The tribute emphasized that continuing the Looney Tunes legacy was among the greatest honors of Bauza’s life.

His death lands at a particularly visible moment in that legacy. Bauza had recently voiced multiple characters in Coyote vs. Acme and continued appearing in new animation projects. For viewers, his work was often designed to make famous characters feel effortless and timeless. For the industry, it demonstrated the precision, versatility and imagination required to keep those characters speaking to new audiences.