Bauza's Final Credit: Super Mario Galaxy Movie
The voice actor died Sunday at age 46; his family cited sudden hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
The animation industry lost a central figure in its long-running cartoons.
Eric Bauza, the man behind the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, died at age 46.
His family confirmed the death in an Instagram post, describing the passing as sudden. Variety reported that the cause was hypertensive cardiovascular disease and that he died at his home on Sunday.
Bauza's final professional credit was in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. That film currently stands as the fifth highest-grossing release internationally this year. He also appeared in Coyote vs. Acme, the animated feature released earlier in 2026.
Born in Ontario to parents of Filipino descent, Bauza grew up imitating cartoon characters. In a 2021 interview with NBC News, he noted that Looney Tunes comedy works across language barriers. "It doesn't matter what part of the planet you're from," he said, "You get the comedy."
His tenure with Warner Bros. projects spanned decades. He voiced Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in Space Jam: A New Legacy in 2021. He returned to those roles, plus Road Runner, in Coyote vs. Acme. Outside the Looney Tunes universe, he provided the voice for Toad General in the 2023 Super Mario film.
Bauza received three Emmy awards for outstanding voice performance between 2022 and 2025. Channing Dungey, chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, issued a tribute through the Hollywood Reporter. "Eric Bauza was a unique voice talent who brought joy and laughter to millions around the world," Dungey said. She added that Bauza viewed carrying on the legacy of the cartoons as one of life's greatest honors.
Source: BBC News
