He Was 'the Voice of an Entire Cartoon Universe'

Eric Bauza's run as the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck has ended far too soon. The Emmy-winning voice actor died Sunday at his Los Angeles home of hypertensive cardiovascular disease at age 46, according to county medical officials. His family announced the death on his Instagram account, saying only that it was sudden and that "more details" would follow, Variety reports. Bauza had been scheduled to attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Animation's The Cat in the Hat on Sunday afternoon, per the Hollywood Reporter.

Bauza, born in suburban Toronto in 1979, accumulated more than 400 credits after his 2001 debut, voicing not just Bugs and Daffy but Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Road Runner, and more in projects from Coyote vs. Acme to Space Jam: A New Legacy. The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Roxborough called him "the voice of an entire cartoon universe." Warner Bros. said he "followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc," while Coyote vs. Acme producer Chris DeFaria praised his "absolutely tireless dedication" to animation. Bauza also voiced characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.