Donnie Dunagan

Birthday: 16 August 1934, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Birth Name: Donald Roan Dunagan

Height: 185 cm

Born in Depression-era Texas, Donnie Dunagan moved with his parents to Memphis as a young child. There, as a three-year-old, he was taught to tap dance by a neighbor and entered in a talent contest at the Orpheum Theatre. Donnie won the $100 prize and caught the attention of a movie talent scout in the audience, who arranged for the family to come by train to Hollywood. The blonde moppet made his film debut in "Mother Carey's Chickens" (1938), played the son of the "Son of Frankenstein" (1939) and provided the voice of young Bambi for the 1942 animated classic. Dunagan later became a career Marine (1952-77), serving in Vietnam and working in counter intelligence. Show less «

[on the death scene in 'Bambi'] That was the only thing that bothered me - nobody told me when I rec...Show more »

[on the death scene in 'Bambi'] That was the only thing that bothered me - nobody told me when I recorded the line 'Mother! Mother!' what it was about. But back then, there was a war going on, and a lot of children's mothers were dying. I think it was very, very smart to have it happen off-camera. Show less «

I'm a sensitive man. When I had my first casualties as a lieutenant, I had a hard time controlling m...Show more »

I'm a sensitive man. When I had my first casualties as a lieutenant, I had a hard time controlling my emotions, but I had a strong sergeant with me who kept me from doing something stupid. I've been around some real tough guys, and I promise you on my honor: The strongest guys I've known in life would pick up a wounded baby kitty on the side of the road. Yet you wouldn't want to go against them in combat. That is not inconsistent. It is part of the same ethos. Show less «

One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I didn't have the courage to tell my close personal fr...Show more »

One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I didn't have the courage to tell my close personal friends in the Marine Corps that I had been a part of the wonderful work of Mr. Disney. It was the Marine Corps of the Marine Corps. If I had picked up the nickname "Bambi" I would have been history. Still it's something I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself for. Show less «

[asked how he feels about being known as the voice of Bambi] Wonderful. Not many would understand th...Show more »

[asked how he feels about being known as the voice of Bambi] Wonderful. Not many would understand this, if they had a clue of even half of my teen and long adult life. The reality is, at age 77, it is pure joy that both children and 80 year-olds can enjoy the film together. I could be working in the White House and children could care less. But let someone say, 'that dude over there was the face, or voice of Bambi,' and I am an immediate adopted grandfather to them. That is just an unmatchable joy, and a real responsibility. Show less «

Donnie Dunagan

Donnie Dunagan's FILMOGRAPHY

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