Joseph Benson "Ben" Hardaway, also known as "Bugs," was born on May 21, 1895, and passed away on February 5, 1957. He made significant contributions to American animation during the Golden Age, working as a storyboard artist, animator, voice actor, writer, gagman, and director for various studios.
In the late 1930s, while at Leon Schlesinger / Warner Bros., Hardaway co-directed "Porky's Hare Hunt" in 1938. This landmark film marked the debut of a rabbit character, which would later evolve into the iconic Bugs Bunny. Although Hardaway's original design was not well-received, it was designer Charlie Thorson who inadvertently gave the character its famous name by annotating the model sheet as "Bugs' Bunny," linking it to Hardaway's work. By the time Bugs was refined for "A Wild Hare," the name had already gained traction in studio promotional materials.
In 1940, Hardaway transitioned to Walter Lantz Productions, where he played a pivotal role in creating Woody Woodpecker. Over the next decade, he contributed to the majority of the Woody Woodpecker stories and voiced the character from 1944 to 1949, solidifying Woody's status as a beloved animated icon. Hardaway’s creativity and influence on animation have left an indelible mark on the industry.
