The animation world lost one of its brightest voices this week. Eric Bauza, the Emmy winning voice actor who carried Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck into a new generation, died on Sunday, October 25, at the age of 46. Tonight, MeTV Toons is paying tribute to his life and legacy with a special Halloween night celebration.
How to Watch Tonight’s Tribute
MeTV Toons will air Hare’s to Bugs! A Bugs Bunny Celebration tonight, Saturday, October 31, at 7pm ET/PT. The one hour special features Bauza himself talking about Bugs Bunny’s history, personality and lasting popularity, along with archival footage and interviews with animation experts and fellow voice actors. It will be followed at 8pm by a Bugs Bunny and Friends marathon featuring classic cartoons like One Froggy Evening and Fast and Furry-ous.
A Voice Generations Will Remember
Bauza’s family announced on October 25 that he had passed away suddenly at his home. Born in Scarborough, Ontario, on December 7, 1979, Bauza grew up watching Bugs Bunny cartoons and went on to become one of the most in demand voice actors in the industry, with more than 400 credits to his name.
He first joined the Looney Tunes family in 2011 as Marvin the Martian and eventually became the modern voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn and many more, following in the footsteps of the legendary Mel Blanc. Bauza won three Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, including the very first award for Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program for Looney Tunes Cartoons, along with wins for Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!. One of his final performances was in this year’s Coyote vs. Acme.
His manager, Judy Coppage, remembered him as a unique and versatile voice actor who was loved by everyone he worked with. Bauza once said his favorite character to voice was Bugs Bunny, but that as he got older, he felt more like Daffy Duck.
His Disney Legacy
Disney fans heard Eric Bauza more often than they may realize. Some of his Disney roles include:
- DuckTales (2017): The Beagle Boys
- DuckTales Remastered: Fenton Crackshell, stepping in for the late Hamilton Camp
- Legend of the Three Caballeros: José Carioca and other characters
- LEGO Star Wars: Luke Skywalker in LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales and The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
- Marvel: Amadeus Cho in Ultimate Spider-Man and Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy
- Disney Channel and Disney Jr.: characters in Kiff and Pupstruction, plus additional voices in Phineas and Ferb and Gravity Falls
From Duckburg to a galaxy far, far away, his voice brought joy to Disney fans of all ages.
Few performers ever get the chance to carry on a legacy like Mel Blanc’s, and Eric Bauza did it with heart, humor and a deep love for the characters. If you’re home tonight between trick or treaters, MeTV Toons’ tribute is a wonderful way to celebrate the joy he gave to so many of us.
Our thoughts are with Eric’s family, friends and everyone who loved his work. You can also read our tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart, who passed away earlier this week.
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