Voice Actor Eric Bauza Dies at 46: Emmy Winner and Looney Tunes Performer

Eric Bauza, the actor who voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, died at age 46 on Sunday. His family announced his death on Instagram, describing the passing as "sudden." Variety reported the cause as hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Bauza's career spanned the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters and Nintendo's film franchise. He voiced Toad General in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie and reprised the role in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is the fifth highest-grossing film internationally this year. From 2022 to 2025, he won three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance across several TV series.

Born in Ontario and of Filipino descent, Bauza grew up imitating Looney Tunes voices. In a 2021 NBC News interview, he said, "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures." He added, "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."

His credits include Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in 2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy. He returned to those roles in Coyote vs. Acme, the animated film released this summer, and also played Road Runner in that production. He appeared in Forgotten Island.

Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, said in a statement reported by the Hollywood Reporter, "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world." Dungey added, "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."