Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor best known for bringing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and numerous other cartoon characters to life, died October 25, according to a family statement. He was 46.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed his cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Bauza’s career spanned 25 years, with more than 400 credits across film, television, and video games, beginning with the 2001 animated series “The Ripping Friends.”
His Looney Tunes credits included “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” “Bugs Bunny Builders,” and the feature films “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” and “Coyote vs. Acme.” In addition to Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, he voiced such beloved characters as Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Road Runner, and Marvin the Martian.
“Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world,” reads a joint statement from Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group, and Bill Damaschke, president and chief creative officer of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. “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. 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.”
Beyond the Looney Tunes franchise, Bauza voiced Puss in Boots on Netflix’s “The Adventures of Puss in Boots,” Baby Fozzie on Disney Junior’s “Muppet Babies,” and Splinter on Nickelodeon’s “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” His extensive television résumé also included “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Avatar: Seven Havens,” “Ben 10: Omniverse,” “Chowder,” “Fanboy & Chum Chum,” “Rick and Morty,” “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated,” “Teen Titans Go!,” and “Woody Woodpecker.”
His film credits included “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and its sequel, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” in which he voiced Toad General.
Bauza won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for his work on “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” “Bugs Bunny Builders,” and “Teen Titans Go!” He also received five Daytime Emmy nominations for performances on “Looney Tunes Cartoons,” “Muppet Babies,” and “The Adventures of Puss in Boots.”
