Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies at 46
Canadian voice actor Eric Bauza, who gave a new generation its Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Porky Pig, has died suddenly at 46 of heart disease, a loss his manager called profound for animation and its fans.
At a glance
- Eric Bauza, the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the age of 46.
- The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease; his family announced the death on his Instagram page.
- Born in Scarborough, Ontario, to a Filipino family, he had more than 400 screen credits and voiced most of the Looney Tunes cast, from Tweety and Porky Pig to Marvin the Martian and Foghorn Leghorn.
- He won three Children's and Family Emmy Awards (2022, 2023 and 2025) and was nominated again in 2026.
- One of his final big-screen roles was in Coyote vs. Acme, which he was promoting as recently as August.
Eric Bauza, the Canadian voice actor who became the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at the age of 46. He died suddenly on Sunday, October 25, 2026, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the cause as hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His family announced the death in a short statement on his Instagram page and said more details would follow.
His manager, Judy Coppage, called him a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he worked with, and said his sudden death was a shock and a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans.
A voice behind almost every Looney Tune
Over two decades Bauza built up more than 400 screen credits, and in recent years he voiced most of the classic Warner Bros. cast. He shared the role of Bugs Bunny with veteran Jeff Bergman.
| Franchise | Characters he voiced |
|---|---|
| Looney Tunes | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, Pepé Le Pew, Road Runner |
| Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020–2024) | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and others (main role) |
| Bugs Bunny Builders (2022–2025) | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck |
| Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) | Daffy Duck and others |
| Tiny Toons Looniversity (2023) | Buster Bunny |
| The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015–2018) | Puss in Boots |
| Muppet Babies (2018–2022) | Baby Fozzie, Bunsen Honeydew |
| Other work | Stimpy (Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"), Woody Woodpecker, Bob's Burgers, Teen Titans Go!, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ben 10: Omniverse |
He said in interviews that Bugs Bunny was his favourite character to play, but that the older he got, the more he felt like Daffy Duck.
Awards
Bauza won three Children's and Family Emmy Awards:
| Year | Award | Show |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program | Looney Tunes Cartoons |
| 2023 | Outstanding Voice Performance in a Preschool Animated Program | Bugs Bunny Builders |
| 2025 | Outstanding Voice Performer in a Children's or Young Teen Program | Teen Titans Go! |
He was nominated again in 2026, and earlier received five Daytime Emmy nominations between 2016 and 2021.
From Scarborough to Hollywood
Bauza was born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto, to a Filipino family, and his death has been widely mourned in the Philippines as well as in Canada and the United States. He got his start in animation as an intern at the Spümcø studio while still at college, worked as a production assistant, and landed his first voice role in The Ripping Friends. His breakthrough came when he took over the role of Stimpy from Billy West.
From there he became one of the most in-demand voice actors in Hollywood, with an unusual gift for matching the classic voices created decades ago while giving the characters fresh energy for children who had never seen the original shorts.
His final work
One of his last major performances was in Coyote vs. Acme, the live-action and animated Looney Tunes film built around Wile E. Coyote's long-running feud with the Acme Corporation. Bauza was promoting the film in television interviews as recently as August.
Reaction
Fans, fellow voice actors and animators shared tributes online on Sunday and Monday, many recalling his generosity at conventions and the way he brought Bugs and Daffy to a new generation. He is survived by his wife, Jessica, and their son.
What happens next
His family has said more details, including funeral arrangements, will be shared later. Warner Bros. has not yet said who will voice Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the other characters he played in future productions.
Questions people are asking
How did Eric Bauza die?
Eric Bauza died suddenly on Sunday, October 25, 2026, aged 46. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined the cause was hypertensive cardiovascular disease, a heart condition linked to high blood pressure.
Who voices Bugs Bunny now after Eric Bauza?
Bauza shared the role of Bugs Bunny in recent years with veteran voice actor Jeff Bergman. Warner Bros. has not announced who will voice Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in future productions.
What characters did Eric Bauza voice?
He voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, Pepé Le Pew and Road Runner for Looney Tunes, plus Stimpy, Puss in Boots, Woody Woodpecker, Buster Bunny and Muppet Babies characters, among more than 400 credits.
