Eric Bauza, the modern voice of Bugs Bunny and his cartoon co-star, died of heart disease at 46, medical examiner rules

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner found Eric Bauza died at home on Sunday of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Sleep apnea and class 2 obesity were listed as other significant conditions, and the manner of death was ruled natural. His family said he had 'passed away suddenly'. He was in pre-production on 'Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical' when he died.

The Toronto-born star racked up more than 400 credits and won three Emmys.

Warner Bros chair Channing Dungey said Bauza 'followed in the footsteps of giants like Mel Blanc'.

Bauza once called Blanc 'the original gangsta, the godfather of voiceover'.