His family said he had "passed away suddenly", and he was in pre-production on two projects when he died.
Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died at the age of 46. His family announced the death in a statement on 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," they wrote, adding: "More details to come."
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records say Bauza died at his home, and that the cause was hypertensive cardiovascular disease. He died on Sunday, 25 October. He had been scheduled to attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's The Cat in the Hat that afternoon to support Daffy Season, a short that plays before the film, The Hollywood Reporter said, citing press documents.
Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and U.S. Networks, and Bill Damaschke, president and chief creative officer at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, paid tribute in a joint statement. They said: "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world. During his 15 years at Warner Bros. Animation, he was the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among countless other characters." The statement added that Eric was "a treasured part of our animation family", and that Bauza said carrying on the legendary legacy of the Looney Tunes was among the greatest honors of his life.
Bauza was born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Toronto, and more recently lived in Los Angeles. His SBV Talent biography states that his start in animation came as a character designer for a Hollywood production studio. He had more than 400 acting credits, the first of them The Ripping Friends in 2001.
In the Looney Tunes film Coyote vs. Acme, released earlier this year, he voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Porky Pig, Road Runner and Charlie the Dog.
Bauza said of the movie's reception around the world:
"A lot of talented folks worked really hard to make this film, and to be able to see it celebrated by so many people across the globe has really made the wait worth it."
Chris DeFaria, who produced Coyote vs. Acme, told Variety that he would remember Bauza as someone with an "absolutely tireless dedication" to the animation art form.
He was up for five Daytime Emmys and took three Children's & Family Emmys, for Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!.
Bauza was in the pre-production phase of two projects when he passed away: Daffy Duck in Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical and The Shogun King in The Dragon Masters.
Bauza recently landed on The Hollywood Reporter's inaugural Animation Power list and attended the event honoring those on it.
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