Eric Bauza, 'Looney Tunes' voice actor behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dead at 46
Eric Bauza, 'Looney Tunes' voice actor behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dead at 46
Eric Bauza, the voice behind iconic "Looney Tunes" characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died, Fox News Digital has confirmed.
from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. He was 46.
Beginning in 2001, Bauza amassed more than 400 voice-acting credits in a career that gave voice to beloved characters in animated Looney Tunes series including "Puss in Boots," "Muppet Babies," "Avatar: The Last Airbender," and countless others.
The voice actor's family confirmed his death on Instagram, but has not shared any additional details.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bauza's representative.
Bauza's early breakthrough came when he voiced Stimpy in the 2003 series "Ren & Stimpy: Adult Party Cartoon," taking over the character previously voiced by Billy West.
He became one of Hollywood's most recognizable voice talents, particularly for his work carrying on the legacy of legendary .
"Im a fan first when it comes to this franchise, this band of characters. Mel Blanc will always be the original gangsta, the godfather of voiceover," Bauza told Fox News Digital back in 2020. "He was the first voice actor credited on screen as a voice actor. They never did back in the day. And were talking about the 30s and 40s."
"So he really paved the way to show the importance of vocal performance, not an on-camera one. And the fact that were sitting here now talking about his performance just shows you how incredible, impactful and influential his sound is."
Bauza's Looney Tunes work included feature films such as "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021), "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" (2024) and this year's Bauza won three Children's and Family Emmy Awards during his career.
Beyond bringing Bugs Bunny to life on screen, Bauza had a deep appreciation for the character's roots and what made him so beloved by generations of fans. Reflecting on Bugs Bunny's signature personality, Bauza once explained how the character's unmistakable New York accent came to be.
"And if youre wondering where [Bugs Bunny] got that accent from, they say hes a rascally rabbit," Bauza told Fox News Digital. "So [Mel] thought, hes gotta be a tough character. And theres no one tougher than a New Yorker, thats what he said. He said its either Brooklyn or The Bronx. He mixed the two together, those accents. So thats why he kind of has that street talk."
"I think he represents the everyman, the every rabbit," he added. "He doesnt have a lot of high demands in life. All he wants is a carrot and a nice afternoon where no one bugs him. And if you get on his bad side, thats when you gotta look out. Thats when he becomes the trickster. But really, hes just a simple rabbit, nothing to him. I think thats why hes so appealing. And I think thats why when he gets in trouble, people want him to succeed."
With hundreds of voice-acting credits across television, film and video games, Bauza built a career introducing classic cartoon characters to new generations while creating memorable performances of his own.
His work helped keep some of animation's most enduring characters alive for modern audiences.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
