Ben Hardaway

Joseph Benson "Ben/Bugs" Hardaway (21 May 1895 - 5 February 1957) was an American storyboard artist, animator, voice actor, writer, gagman, and director. He is best known as the creator of a rabbit (who would later evolve into Bugs Bunny), based on another Looney Tunes character, Daffy Duck, and for helping Walter Lantz create Woody Woodpecker (for whom he also provided the voice after Mel Blanc left).
His nickname, Bugs, was given to Bugs Bunny to honor his creation of the character as per Mel Blanc's request.
He died unexpectedly in 1957, at the age of 61, of complications likely stemming from his wartime exposure to chemical weapons. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/bugs-hardaway-of-battery-d/
He is also the oldest person to direct cartoons for Warner Bros., having been born before any other director on May 21, 1895.
== Looney Works ==
=== Director ===
* Buddy of the Apes (1934) 
* Rhythm in the Bow (1934) 
* Buddy's Adventures (1934) 
* Buddy the Dentist (1934) 
* Buddy of the Legion (1935) 
* Buddy's Pony Express (1935) 
* Buddy's Theatre (1935) 
* Buddy in Africa (1935) 
* Porky's Hare Hunt (1938) (with Cal Dalton (uncredited)) 
* Love and Curses (1938) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Porky the Gob (1938) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Count Me Out (1938) (with Cal Dalton) 
* It's an Ill Wind (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Gold Rush Daze (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Bars and Stripes Forever (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Porky and Teabiscuit (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Hobo Gadget Band (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Hare-um Scare-um (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Sioux Me (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Fagin's Freshman (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Porky the Giant Killer (1939) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Busy Bakers (1940) (with Cal Dalton) 
* Confederate Honey (1940) (uncredited, with Cal Dalton (uncredited) and Friz Freleng) 
* The Hardship of Miles Standish (1940) (uncredited, with Cal Dalton (uncredited) and Friz Freleng) 
=== Writer ===
* Daffy Duck & Egghead (1938) 
* Porky's Five & Ten (1938) (uncredited) 
* The Penguin Parade (1938) 
* Confederate Honey (1940) 
* The Bear's Tale (1940) 
* Porky's Baseball Broadcast (1940) 
* Little Blabbermouse (1940) 
* A Bone for a Bone (1951) 
== Character Created ==
Bugs Bunny Cartoon Vector 11-500x500.jpg|Bugs Bunny (original)
Hunter.png| John Sourpuss
== Gallery ==
TKlein21 Hardaway05.png|Ben in a Termite Terrace gag reel
Bugs hardaway again.jpg
== References ==
 
Category:Looney Tunes Directors
Category:Directors
Category:Real People
Category:Deceased
Category:Animators
Category:Voice-actors
Category:Looney Tunes Voice-Actors
Category:Writers
Category:1895 Births
Category:1957 Deaths