Eric Bauza, Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 46

One of the brightest lights in voice acting, and the man behind some of the most iconic animated characters of all time, has died. Eric Bauza was the beloved Canadian voice actor who brought some of animation's most famous characters to life, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. Over a career that spanned more than 20 years, Bauza's talents made him one of the most recognizable voices in Hollywood, following in the footsteps of the legendary Mel Blanc, while introducing the Looney Tunes characters to a whole new generation of fans.

Bauza died on October 25 at his home in Los Angeles County, with the local medical examiner listing the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His family announced the news in a statement via his official Instagram account, confirming that his passing was sudden:

"Eric Bauza, Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters, has passed away suddenly. More details to come."

Bauza's career extended far beyond Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, too. He also voiced Tweety Bird, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, Foghorn Leghorn and Road Runner, and starred in projects like Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Muppet Babies, Teen Titans Go! and Rick and Morty. Throughout his career, he was also the recipient of three Children's and Family Emmy Awards, while he also received five Daytime Emmy nominations throughout his career. Bauza most recently returned to the franchise in Coyote vs. Acme, and at the time of his death, he had been preparing to reprise Daffy Duck in Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical.

Tributes Paid to Eric Bauza

Some of the biggest names behind the scenes in Hollywood have paid tribute to Bauza following his passing, with his importance to the world of animation being highlighted.

“Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions 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,” said Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks Chairman Channing Dungey in a statement. “He followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc. Eric said that carrying on the legendary legacy of the Looney Tunes was among the greatest honors of his life. In addition to his incredible talent, Eric was a treasured part of our animation family. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.”

Chris DeFaria, a producer on Coyote vs. Acme, released a statement to Variety echoing the words of Dungey and Warner Bros.

“He embodied everything we wanted from this film, including the major theme of the movie that a little guy can make a difference in this world,” said DeFaria. “He’s a voiceover artist for animated characters that have historic precedents and roles, and somehow out of that, he carved out a place in this business. And this past year, he had such an incredible impact, both on our movie, of course, but also on bringing attention to this amazing art form.”

Bauza is survived by his son.