What happened
Eric Bauza, the voice actor best known for bringing Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig to life, has died, his family said Monday. NBC News reported that the family posted a brief statement on his official Instagram page saying he had "passed away suddenly," without offering further details.
According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office, Bauza died Sunday at his residence. The office noted that he had been diagnosed with hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The headline on NBC's report gave his age as 46.
The family's statement described the Emmy Award-winning performer as the "modern voice of iconic 'Looney Tunes' characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters."
Tributes from those who worked with him
His manager, Judy Coppage, told NBC News by email that Bauza "was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with." She called his sudden passing "a shock to all of us" and said he "will be deeply missed."
Coppage described his death as "a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans." She added that watching him succeed and become "one of the most accomplished voices in animation was rewarding and thrilling."
A career built on classic cartoons
Bauza, a Canadian-American, won three Emmy Awards between 2022 and 2025 for his work, NBC News reported. His roles included Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian and Tweety, in addition to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig.
He was also the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny in the Looney Tunes cartoons. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he said that milestone brought a flood of encouragement and adoration from the Asian American community. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he said at the time. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."
Bauza said he grew up as a huge Looney Tunes fan and that the classic cartoons were part of the bond between his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather. He also said his obsessive attention to detail and persistence formed the foundation of his craft, which began with mimicking cartoon voices as a child.
Film and television credits
Bauza voiced some of the most prominent animated characters in the 2021 film "Space Jam: A New Legacy" and appeared in the 2023 "Super Mario Bros. Movie." His most recent film credit was the 2026 release "Coyote vs. Acme," NBC News reported.
According to his IMDb page, he also voiced Stimpy Cat in "Ren & Stimpy," Foop in "The Fairly OddParents," Fozzie Bear in "Muppet Babies" and the Beagle Boys in "DuckTales."
