Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor best known for voicing iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died. He was 46. The announcement came on the evening of Oct. 25, with a notice posted to his Instagram account confirming his sudden passing from hypertensive heart disease.
Advocating for Coyote vs ACME
Bauza was not only a prolific voice actor but also a vocal advocate for the release of the film Coyote vs ACME. The movie had been shelved by Warner Bros for several years. During the 2024 Annie Awards, Bauza went off script while presenting as Bugs and Daffy. He shouted demands for the film’s release, a moment that many in the animation industry consider instrumental in its eventual debut.
In an interview with Polygon in January, Bauza recalled the incident. He explained that the line was originally pitched as a joke but removed from the teleprompter. He performed it anyway, waiting for security to remove him from the stage. The audience reacted with a large laugh, and Bauza noted that he received significant respect from industry leaders for the stunt.
A Legacy of Voices
Bauza began his career as an animator in the early 2000s before transitioning to voice acting. Over a quarter-century, he accumulated hundreds of credits. His roles included Toad General in the recent Super Mario films, Lego Luke Skywalker, and Transformers characters Hot Rod and Prowl. He also voiced Tiger Claw in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Sentinels in X-Men ’97, Baby Fozzie in the Muppet Babies reboot, and Woody Woodpecker.
He voiced a variety of other Looney Tunes characters in films such as The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie and Space Jam: A New Legacy. Bauza often spoke about the importance of Mel Blanc, the original voice legend for these characters, and shared in-depth knowledge of animation history during interviews.
Bauza is survived by his wife and their young son. The Polygon staff extends its condolences to his family and loved ones.
Source: Polygon
