Joe Alaskey, the man who voiced cartoon characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has died of cancer. He was 63.
The actor died peacefully in his home on Feb. 3, according to a statement obtained by TheWrap.
Alaskey began his career as a stand-up comedian and broadcaster. His big break came when he replaced Mel Blanc as the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck after his death in 1989. “Looney Tunes” fans also remember the actor for voicing Tweety and Sylvester the Cat.
In addition to his work on several “Looney Tunes” characters, he voiced Grandpa Lou Pickles in the recent incarnations of “Rugrats,” and Droopy the Dog in “Tom and Jerry.” He also lent his voice to “Forrest Gump,” in which he voiced Richard Nixon.
His last credits include the voice of Green Loontern in “Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham,” and as a narrator on Investigation Discovery’s “Murder Comes To Town.” In 2004, Alaskey won an Emmy Award for voicing Daffy the Duck in “Duck Dodgers.”
Alaskey was born April 17, 1952, in Troy, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California.
A follower posted a picture confirming Alaskey’s death onto his Facebook fan page, with the simple words, “In loving memory of Joe Alaskey.”
Alaskey is survived by his brother, John Ned Alaskey and his nieces and nephews.
Posted by Joe Alaskey Fans on Wednesday, February 3, 2016