‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Star Eric Bauza, the Voice Who Kept Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck Alive for a New Generation, Has Died
Few jobs in entertainment carry the weight of stepping into a legend’s shoes. Mel Blanc, nicknamed “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” gave ‘Looney Tunes’ its original sound, and anyone who followed him had to be both a skilled mimic and a gifted comic performer. For a new generation of viewers, that person was Eric Bauza.
Bauza was Canadian-born, grew up in Scarborough, Toronto, and worked as a character designer before establishing himself as a voice performer. He began working in the ‘Looney Tunes’ franchise in 2011 as Marvin the Martian, then went on to voice characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn and Road Runner. Variety counted more than 400 acting credits, starting with ‘The Ripping Friends’ in 2001.
Now the animation world is mourning him. Bauza died on Sunday, October 25, at a home in Los Angeles County, and he was 46.
His family announced the news in a statement on his Instagram account Sunday night, calling him an Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The statement said he had passed away suddenly. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later determined that the cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
His manager, Judy Coppage, described him to NBC Los Angeles as a unique and versatile voice actor who was well loved. Bauza is survived by his wife, Jessica, whom he married in 2016, and one son.
The loss feels especially sharp because he was so active. The day before he died, he posted a photo of himself with animator and director David Silverman at the LightBox Expo in Pasadena. At the time of his death, he was in pre-production on two projects: ‘Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical,’ in which he was set to voice Daffy Duck, and ‘The Dragon Masters,’ where he was set to play the Shogun King.
Bauza’s work in ‘Looney Tunes Cartoons’ won him the first-ever Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program in 2022. He added 2 more Children’s and Family Emmys for ‘Bugs Bunny Builders’ in 2023 and ‘Teen Titans Go!’ in 2025. Beyond the Looney Tunes roster, he voiced Puss in Boots in ‘The Adventures of Puss in Boots’ and Fozzie Bear in Disney’s ‘Muppet Babies’ revival.
His résumé also included ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ and ‘Chowder.’ Even in 2026 alone, he lent his voice to projects including ‘Chibiverse,’ ‘Minions & Monsters,’ ‘Forgotten Island,’ ‘Rick and Morty,’ ‘Superkitties’ and ‘Avatar: Seven Havens.’
One of his final big-screen performances came earlier this year in ‘Coyote vs. Acme,’ where he had a dozen credits. The film was nearly lost after Warner Bros. Discovery shelved it in 2023, and Ketchup Entertainment distributed it this year. For fans, it was a reminder of how many classic characters one performer could carry.
Chris DeFaria, a producer on the film, remembered Bauza for his dedication to animation and the impact he had on the project.
Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, called Bauza an incredible talent who brought joy and laughter to millions. She said he followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc, and she noted that he had described carrying on the Looney Tunes legacy as one of the greatest honors of his life. She also called him a treasured part of the studio’s animation family.
Fellow voice actor Jim Cummings, who voices Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Darkwing Duck, said he was at a loss for words and called Bauza a young, kind man. That sentiment, kindness alongside talent, is how many in the animation community seem to be remembering him.
For many fans, Bauza’s Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck were the voices they grew up hearing in new cartoons, preschool shows and the big screen. He honored the original performances while making the characters feel fresh, and that balance is a rare achievement. His work will keep playing for audiences who may never know his name but will recognize his voice.
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