Eric Bauza, voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, dies at 46

Eric Bauza, best known for voicing the lovable “Looney Tunes” characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, has died, his family said Monday.

He was 46.

Bauza’s family issued a brief statement on his official Instagram page stating that he had “passed away suddenly,” without giving further details.

The Emmy Award-winning voice actor was the “modern voice of iconic “Looney Tunes” characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters,” the statement said.

Bauza died Sunday at his residence, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office, which noted that he had been diagnosed with hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

“Eric was a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he knew and worked with,” his manager, Judy Coppage, told NBC News by email.

“His sudden passing is a shock to all of us, and he will be deeply missed. It’s a profound loss for his family, the animation industry and his fans,” Coppage added. “The pleasure of watching him succeed and excel to become one of the most accomplished voices in animation was rewarding and thrilling.”

Image: Daffy Duck slamming a hammer into a wall. — Bauza was the voice actor for Daffy Duck’s character in “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie”.Capital Pictures / Alamy

The Canadian-American won three Emmy awards between 2022 and 2025 for his work, including voicing characters such as Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian and Tweety.

He was also the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny in the “Looney Tunes” cartoons, which he told NBC News in a 2021 interview led to a deluge 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 a massive ”Looney Tunes” fan, noting that the classic cartoons were part of the bond between his Filipino immigrant father and grandfather. He also said his obsessive attention to detail and persistence formed the foundation of his craft, as he grew up mimicking cartoon voices.

An animated coyote standing on the middle of the street while wearing rolling skates. — Bauza voiced the character Wile E. Coyote in the 2026 film “Coyote vs. Acme”.Ketchup Entertainment

Bauza also voiced some of the biggest animated characters in the 2021 movie “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and appeared in the 2023 “Super Mario Bros. Movie” and, most recently, the 2026 “Coyote vs. Acme” film.

He also lent his voice to characters including Stimpy Cat in “Ren & Stimpy,” Foop from “The Fairly OddParents,” Fozzie Bear from “Muppet Babies” and the Beagle Boys from “DuckTales,” according to his IMDb page.

NBC News Top Stories wp:paragraph