Eric Bauza

Eric Adrian Bauza was a force of warmth and laughter in the world of animation — a Canadian-American voice actor whose boundless energy and reverent artistry brought some of the most beloved characters in cartoon history back to life for an entirely new generation. Born on December 7, 1979, in Scarborough, Ontario, to Filipino immigrant parents, Eric discovered the magic of cartoons early. As a child, he would sit in front of the television with crayons in hand, drawing along with Mr. Dressup while his grandfather and father stoked a shared love of classic animation. By the time he was nine, he was sprinting around his room doing impressions of Bugs Bunny — with enough conviction that, as he liked to joke, his parents thought he was possessed. After graduating from Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, Eric enrolled in Centennial College's Radio, Television, and Film program. During his third year he landed an internship at the legendary animation studio Spümcø, where he found his footing as a production assistant and earned his first voice acting credit on The Ripping Friends. His breakthrough came when he took over the role of Stimpy on Spike TV's Ren & Stimpy: Adult Party Cartoon, announcing to the industry that a new voice of singular talent had arrived. Over the next two decades, Eric became one of animation's most prolific performers, voicing more than 300 characters for Cartoon Network, Disney, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. His most defining chapter was inheriting the full roster of Looney Tunes legends — Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, and Woody Woodpecker. As the first person of color to voice Bugs Bunny, he carried the responsibility with deep care, describing himself not as an owner of the characters but as their custodian. His excellence was recognized with three Children's and Family Emmy Awards — for Looney Tunes Cartoons in 2022, Bugs Bunny Builders in 2023, and Teen Titans Go! in 2025 — and five Daytime Emmy nominations. Off the microphone, he hosted the CBC Gem documentary series Stay Tooned, performed stand-up comedy at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, and remained, by every colleague's account, a ball of uproarious energy and uncommon generosity. Eric Bauza died suddenly on October 25, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles, from hypertensive heart disease. He was 46 years old, and is survived by his child. His voice — unmistakable, joyful, and alive with history — will echo through animation for generations to come.