“He followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc.”
This was stated by Channing Dungey, Chairman of Warner Bros. Group. Television and US Networks this evening after Eric Bauza’s family announced the death of the newest voice actor behind characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, including in this year’s much-loved film. Coyote vs. Acme. Bauza was 46 years old.
Filling the shoes of the legendary Mel Blanc at Looney Tunes was no small task, but the three-time Emmy winner did it competently for years. Dungey called Bauza “an incredible talent.”
Besides the big two, he brought to life other Looney Tunes characters, including Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig, Road Runner, Elmer Fudd and Marvin the Martian. He played several of these characters in Space Jam: a new legacy And Looney Tunes cartoons. For the latter, Bauza won the 2022 first-ever Kids & Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Vocal Performance in an Animated Program. It was for Looney Tunes cartoons. He won the award again for The Teen Titans are leaving! in 2024. In 2023, he won the Emmy for Outstanding Vocal Performance in a Preschool Program for Bugs Bunny Builders.
Here’s a little about Buaza and fellow Emmy winner Peter Cullen, who both performed at the ceremony in 2023.
That alone would have been a career, but Bauza also voiced Stimpy, the animated Luke Skywalker, Puss in Boots, Bam-Bam Rubble, Donatello, Leonardo, the animated Jason Bourne, Robert “Big Bob” Belcher, Jimmy Pesto, Sr., Woody Woodpecker, Two-Face, Bane, Jimmy Olsen, and Aquaman.
A partial list of other projects to which he has lent his talents includes The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Avatar: The Last Airbender Series, The Fairly OddParents, Phineas and Ferb, Rick and Morty, Ultimate Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go!, The Tom and Jerry Show, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Lego Star Wars, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Powerpuff Girls, Muppet Babies, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Krapopolis And X-Men ’97.
Dungey said in a statement: “Eric Bauza was a unique vocal talent who brought joy and laughter to millions of people 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. He followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc. Eric said carrying on the legendary legacy of Looney Tunes was one of the greatest honors of his life. In addition to his incredible talent, Eric was a precious part of our animation family. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.
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