Bauza's Sudden Death Leaves a Void in the Sound of Modern Looney Tunes

Eric Bauza, the voice actor behind some of the most recognizable characters in American animation, has died.

He was 46 years old.

Bauza died on Sunday at his residence in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office identified the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His family announced the news on Monday via a brief statement on his official Instagram page. They described his passing as sudden but offered no further details.

The family referred to him as the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters, specifically Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon figures. Bauza was a Canadian-American artist who won three Emmy awards between 2022 and 2025. His award-winning work included voicing Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and Tweety. He was also the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny in the franchise.

Judy Coppage, his manager, spoke to NBC News by email about the shock of the loss. She stated that Bauza was a unique and versatile voice actor loved by everyone he knew and worked with. Coppage noted that the sudden passing was a profound loss for his family, the animation industry, and his fans. She added that watching him excel to become one of the most accomplished voices in animation was rewarding and thrilling.

Bauza’s career extended beyond the classic cartoons. He voiced major characters in the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy and appeared in the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie. His most recent credit was the 2026 film Coyote vs. Acme. According to his IMDb page, he also lent his voice to Stimpy Cat in Ren & Stimpy, Foop from The Fairly OddParents, Fozzie Bear from Muppet Babies, and the Beagle Boys from DuckTales.

In a 2021 interview, Bauza explained that his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather shared a bond through the classic cartoons, which he grew up imitating. He said that Looney Tunes transcends languages and cultures, noting that the comedy works regardless of where one is from. He described the role as a source of encouragement and adoration from the Asian American community.