Looney Tunes star Eric Bauza, who voiced Bugs Bunny and more, dies suddenly aged 46

Prolific voice actor Eric Bauza has died (Picture: John Salangsang/Shutterstock) Eric Bauza, the award-winning voice actor behind the likes of Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Porky Pig, has died suddenly at the age of 46. His death was announced by his family on Sunday night, who posted a short statement to his Instagram account. ‘Eric Bauza, Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters, has passed away suddenly,’ it read. ‘More details to come.’ Variety later reported his cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records. Bauza had just been part of the enormous success of Coyote vs Acme,the legal live-action animation hybrid comedy which grossed $101.5 million (£75.9m) at the box office this summer after initially being pigeonholed by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off in 2023. A passionate fan-led campaign saw the studio finally relent and sell the distribution rights to Ketchup Entertainment for a reported $50m (£37.4m), who released the film in August. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Bauza voiced nearly all of the Looney Tunes in the hit summer film Coyote vs Acme (Picture: Ketchup Entertainment/Warner Bros.) In the movie, which starred Will Forte, Lana Condor and John Cena, Bauza was credited as voicing Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Tweety, Road Runner, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Dr. Lorre, Charlie Dog and Gossamer. He also previously voiced characters in Space Jam: A New Legacy, various Looney Tunes cartoons, DuckTales, Unikitty!, Thomas & Friends and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Bauza’s first credit came in 2001 on the TV show The Ripping Friends, with more than 400 since, which also included Avatar: The Last Airbender, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Ben 10 Omniverse, as well as Minions & Monsters and Forgotten Island this year. But he was best known as one of original Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc’s successors. The 46-year-old, who had multiple Emmy to his name, has been mourned by the industry (Picture: John Salangsang/Shutterstock) ‘This is so heartbreaking and an incredible loss. Not only is Eric a legend and will always be one of the best, he was so kind and had such a good heart. Deepest condolences to you and all of Eric’s family,’ commented voice actor Tawny Platis on Instagram, while Grey DeLisle wrote: ‘One of the most talented, kind, funny, generous souls. I can’t comprehend this.’ Phineas and Ferb co-creator Dan Povenmire wrote: ‘Oh my god! This is devastating! I was just thinking about him this morning and what a huge upturn his career has had with the success of Coyote vs Acme and what a great guy he is and how happy I was that he was getting recognised for his immense talent. I am speechless.’ Fellow voice acting star Jim Cummings, known for his work as Winnie the Pooh for Disney, and who voiced the Tasmanian Devil in Coyote vs Acme, re-shared a reel of him and Bauza doing a Darkwing Duck and Daffy Duck ‘face off’ on his podcast in 2024, with fan sharing their tributes underneath. ‘Eric was a special one, carried on the Looney Tunes torch so wonderfully and every interview with him in it was such a treat. So devastating,’ posted @a.myuzen. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘This is just incredibly sad. Eric truly felt like he was the modern Mel Blanc, and now we lost another amazing talent,’ wrote Zach McCoy. Coyote vs Acme producer Chris DeFaria remembered Bauza’s ‘pure expression of dedication, talent, enthusiasm, love and fun’. ‘He embodied everything we wanted from this film, including the major theme of the movie that a little guy can make a difference in this world,’ DeFaria continued to Variety. ‘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,’ added Channing Dungey, Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks Chairman, praising him as ‘a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world’. Over the course of his storied career, Bauza was nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on Looney Tunes Cartoons, Muppet Babies and The Adventures of Puss in Boots. He won three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for Teen Titans Go!, Bugs Bunny Builders and Looney Tunes Cartoons, as well as a nomination for Daffy in Wackyland. Arrow MORE: Everyone thinks Wildwood will win an Oscar – but you need to see it yourself Arrow MORE: Who is Elizabeth Holmes? The real story behind Nathan Fielder’s You Can See Everything Arrow MORE: Office Space and Star Trek actor Richard Riehle dies aged 78 Switched On Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.