Eric Bauza, Emmy-Winning Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 46

Eric Bauza, the voice actor known for bringing Looney Tunes favorites Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig to life, has died at 46, his family announced Monday.

In a brief statement posted to his official Instagram page, the family said Bauza had "passed away suddenly" and offered no further details. The statement described him as an Emmy Award-winning performer and the "modern voice of iconic 'Looney Tunes' characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters."

The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office said Bauza died Sunday at his residence. The office noted that he had been diagnosed with hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

His manager, Judy Coppage, told NBC News by email that Bauza "was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with." She called his sudden death a shock to all who knew him and a "profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans." Coppage added that watching him succeed and become one of the most accomplished voices in animation had been "rewarding and thrilling."

Bauza, who was Canadian-American, won three Emmy awards between 2022 and 2025 for his work. His credits included voicing Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian and Tweety, among other characters.

He was also the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny in the Looney Tunes cartoons. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he said that milestone brought a flood of encouragement and adoration from the Asian American community. "Looney Tunes transcends all languages and all cultures," he said at the time. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from. You get the comedy."

Bauza said he grew up as a devoted fan of the classic cartoons, which helped connect his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather. He also credited his meticulous attention to detail and his persistence as the foundation of his craft, developed while he imitated cartoon voices as a child.

On the big screen, Bauza voiced major animated characters in the 2021 film "Space Jam: A New Legacy" and appeared in the 2023 "Super Mario Bros. Movie." His most recent film credit was the 2026 release "Coyote vs. Acme."

His television work also included Stimpy Cat in "Ren & Stimpy," Foop in "The Fairly OddParents," Fozzie Bear in "Muppet Babies" and the Beagle Boys in "DuckTales," according to his IMDb page.