Fans woke up to sad news on Monday. Eric Bauza, the voice actor who played Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at 46. Some people searching “Eric Bauza death” may wonder if it’s a hoax. It isn’t. Major news outlets confirmed it, and his family shared the news themselves.
What We Know So Far
His family posted a message on his Instagram account on Sunday night, October 25. The message said he had passed away suddenly. It also called him the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
He died at a home in Los Angeles County, according to officials. At first, the family gave no reason. They only said more details would follow.
How Did Eric Bauza Die?
The cause came out within hours. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed it as hypertensive cardiovascular disease and called the death natural.
The term sounds technical, so here is a simple version. It means long-term high blood pressure has damaged the heart and blood vessels. The damage can build up slowly. For that reason, many people don’t notice any warning signs.
Beyond that, nothing more is public. Guessing about his private health would be unfair to his family. Still, the news is a good reminder to get your blood pressure checked.
One small detail has touched many fans. A reel he shared on Saturday was still on his Instagram story when the family made the announcement. In the clip, his Bugs Bunny voice reads out New York subway announcements. He posted it to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Space Jam, and he joked that it was his closest brush with Broadway.
Who Was Eric Bauza?
Bauza was born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, a part of Toronto. He was Filipino Canadian and studied at Centennial College. He once explained that people of Asian descent are still rare in voice acting, so many viewers saw him as a pioneer.
He didn’t start out behind a microphone. Instead, he worked as a layout artist on cartoons like The Brave Little Toaster and Ren & Stimpy. At night, he practiced his impressions. Over time, the voice work grew, and he left the drawing board behind.
The results speak for themselves. He built up around 421 credits over about 25 years.
The Bugs Bunny Voice Actor
For most fans, Bauza will always be the Bugs Bunny voice actor. He took over the role in 2018 and kept it through 2026, making him one of eight actors to play the rabbit. He also played Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Marvin the Martian, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam and Sylvester.
His love for these characters began in childhood. As a kid in Scarborough, he watched Bugs Bunny cartoons with his brother every Saturday morning. Later, he often credited Mel Blanc, the original voice, for making his career possible.
Emmy Wins
Bauza also collected awards. His work on Looney Tunes Cartoons won the first Children’s and Family Emmy for outstanding voice performance in an animated program. Newsweek reports that he won three of these Emmys in total, including ones for Teen Titans Go! and Bugs Bunny Builders.
Eric Bauza Movies and TV Shows
Because he worked so much, his voice appears in many places. Here are some of the best-known projects.
Movies
- Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021), where he played several Looney Tunes characters
- Coyote vs. Acme (2026), one of his final Looney Tunes roles
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as Toad General
- Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
TV and streaming
- Looney Tunes Cartoons and Bugs Bunny Builders
- Tiny Toons Looniversity, as Buster Bunny
- Muppet Babies, as Fozzie Bear
- The Adventures of Puss in Boots
- Rick and Morty, The Loud House and Kiff
- Invincible, as D.A. Sinclair
- Avatar: Seven Havens, one of his newest
He also hosted Stay Tooned, a short series about how animation shapes culture.
Busy Until the End
Bauza’s career had not slowed down at all. He was reportedly in pre-production on Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical, where he would have voiced Daffy Duck. Earlier in 2026, he had also worked on Chibiverse, Minions & Monsters, Superkitties and other projects.
Tributes From Hollywood
Warner Bros. reacted quickly. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group, said he brought joy to millions. She also said he followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc. In her words, he spent 15 years at Warner Bros. Animation.
His manager, Judy Coppage, shared her shock as well. She described him as a unique and versatile voice actor. Fellow voice actor Jim Cummings also paid his respects online. Bauza leaves behind a son.
Who Will Voice Bugs Bunny Now?
Warner Bros. hasn’t said who will take over. Right now, the family’s needs come first, so any decision may take time. Meanwhile, fans are sharing their favorite clips online.
A Voice Worth Remembering
Voice actors rarely get stopped on the street. Even so, Bauza reached millions of people. When a child hears “What’s up, Doc?” today, chances are it’s his voice. Many of his shows and films are available to stream, so fans can revisit them anytime.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on public news reports at the time of writing. Details may change, and nothing here is medical advice.
