Voice Actor Eric Bauza, Known for Bugs Bunny, Dies at 46

Eric Bauza is gone. The man who gave voice to Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck died Sunday at age 46. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner cited hypertensive cardiovascular disease as the cause. Fox News Digital has confirmed the news.

His family broke the silence on Instagram. They offered no further details. Fox News Digital reached out to his representative for comment. The silence remains.

Bauza’s career spanned two decades. Starting in 2001, he racked up more than 400 voice-acting credits. He breathed life into "Puss in Boots," "Muppet Babies," and "Avatar: The Last Airbender." But it was the Looney Tunes legacy that defined him. He stepped into shoes worn by the legendary Mel Blanc.

That transition was no small feat. His early breakthrough came in 2003 with "Ren & Stimpy: Adult Party Cartoon." He took over the role of Stimpy from Billy West. It was a sign of things to come.

Bauza held a deep reverence for Blanc. In a 2020 interview, he called Blanc "the original gangsta, the godfather of voiceover."

"He was the first voice actor credited on screen as a voice actor," Bauza told Fox News Digital. "They never did back in the day. And we’re talking about the ‘30s and ‘40s."

Blanc paved the way for vocal performance to shine without on-camera presence. Bauza saw that impact clearly.

"So he really paved the way to show the importance of vocal performance, not an on-camera one," he said. "And the fact that we’re sitting here now talking about his performance just shows you how incredible, impactful and influential his sound is."

Bauza carried that torch through major films. He voiced characters in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021) and "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" (2024). This year saw his work in "Coyote vs. Acme." Three Children's and Family Emmy Awards hung on his shelf.

He understood Bugs Bunny at a fundamental level. It wasn't just about the lines. It was about the soul. The accent, for instance, had a specific origin story.

"And if you’re wondering where [Bugs Bunny] got that accent from, they say he’s a rascally rabbit," Bauza explained. "So [Mel] thought, he’s gotta be a tough character. And there’s no one tougher than a New Yorker, that’s what he said."

Blanc mixed Brooklyn and The Bronx accents. That blend created the street talk fans know.

"I think he represents the everyman, the every rabbit," Bauza added. "He doesn’t have a lot of high demands in life. All he wants is a carrot and a nice afternoon where no one bugs him."

But cross him, and the trickster emerges.

"And if you get on his bad side, that’s when you gotta look out," Bauza said. "That’s when he becomes the trickster. But really, he’s just a simple rabbit, nothing to him."

That simplicity is his power. It is why audiences root for him. When trouble strikes, people want him to win.

Bauza built a career across television, film, and video games. He introduced classic cartoons to new generations. His performances created memorable moments of their own. He kept animation's most enduring characters alive for modern eyes and ears.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.