The animation community remembers Eric Bauza

The Everett Collection

We recently lost Eric Bauza at the age of 46. The Looney Tunes voice actor was beloved by fans, fellow voice actors, stand-up comedians, animators, and everyone who got to experience his work.

Many of his collaborators took to the internet to share their memories and sentiments about the voice actor:

Animator, voice actor, and co-creator of Phineas and Ferb Dan Povenmire made a video expressing his feelings about losing Bauza, sharing, "When I was at Warner Bros. doing Looney Tunes shorts, we were looking madly for the next Mel Blanc... and it was nearly impossible to find somebody who could do all of those characters and not make it sound like somebody doing an impression, but somebody really embodying those characters. And I just remember seeing (Coyote vs. ACME) going, oh my gosh! It's Eric! It's Eric Bauza! He's the guy, he's our new Mel Blanc! It's this one guy, who is also just one of the nicest guys you would ever, ever meet." 

Animation director Adam Rosette wrote, "I’m absolutely devastated. Eric was my first friend when I moved to LA in 2010. We shared a desk at a small animation studio, drawing and laughing constantly. I’ll never forget the day he left to pursue voice acting full-time, and watching him go on to become an absolute legend. The last thing I texted him was that he was “the voice of our generation.” I meant every word, and I’m so grateful I got to tell him. More than anything, I’ll remember his kindness, his humor, and the wonderful friend he was."

Voice actor Jim Cummings wrote, "I am at a loss for words. Such a young kind man." Fellow Looney Tunes voice actor Jeff Bergman wrote, "We met over fifteen years ago working on The Looney Tunes Show... It was an honor to work on the (Daffy Season) and Eric did a wonderful job voicing Daffy Duck in Daffy Season. In over four decades in this industry, I have never met anyone that embodied more excitement and enthusiasm for voicing cartoons and for the art of animation history than Eric Bauza."

Bauza's Coyote vs. ACME team led the tributes. Co-star John Cena wrote, "Thank you Eric for giving our favorites their 'voice.' His excitement and love for them was always evident, his passion undeniable." Co-star Lana Condor wrote, "This is beyond devastating. An absolute angel of a man and unbelievable talent - a true light and joy."

Director Dave Green wrote in his tribute, "Getting to be around him was a privilege. He'd light up any room with his voice. He was so patient, and so kind. He spent time with fans. Listened to them, hung out with them, enjoyed them. Because he was one of them...He wanted to see Looney Tunes live on for generations to come. He breathed life into them. Gave them power. He wanted to protect those characters and our film. And he was our biggest champion."

Chris DeFaria, Former President of Warner Bros. Animation and producer of Coyote vs. ACME, wrote a tribute to Bauza in Variety, where he wrote, "Eric carried the legacy of Looney Tunes with a devotion few bring to their work. He voiced Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, and so many more. And he never treated them like a job, to him they were icons who deserved to be honored, protected, and kept alive for new generations. He championed these characters tirelessly in every room he walked into."

Perhaps the best way to end this is with a poignant part of DeFaria's tribute: "Eric never forgot whose shoulders he stood on either. He had enormous reverence for Mel Blanc, the master who gave these characters their original voices, and he used to say he was only borrowing Mel's Cadillac, and that he promised to return the keys when he was done."