Donnie Dunagan

American actor

Donnie Dunagan

Dunagan in October 2014

Born|

Donald Roan Dunagan

(1934-08-16) August 16, 1934 (age 90)

San Antonio, Texas, U.S.

Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1938–1942 (as an actor)
Known for| Original voice of Bambi in Walt Disney's Bambi
Military career
Allegiance|  United States
Service/branch|  United States Marine Corps
Years of service| 1952–1977
Rank|  Major
Battles/wars| Korean War
Vietnam War
Awards|  Bronze Star
Purple Heart

Donald Roan Dunagan (born August 16, 1934) is an American former child actor and retired United States Marine Corps major. He is best known for portraying the young son of Baron Frankenstein in Son of Frankenstein and for providing the voice of young Bambi in Bambi (1942). As of 2024, he, Peter Behn (the voice of young Thumper) and Stan Alexander (the voice of young Flower) are the last three surviving cast members of the film.[citation needed]

## Biography

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Dunagan was born in San Antonio, Texas, United States, but his family soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they struggled with poverty.[1] There, when he was at the age of three-and-a-half, he won a talent contest prize of $100. Spotted by a studio talent scout, the family moved to Hollywood, where Dunagan appeared in a series of films[2] and soon became his family's main breadwinner. After he provided the voice for the titular character in Walt Disney's Bambi (1942), he retired from voice acting.[3]

By the age of 13, Dunagan lived in a boarding house and worked as a lathe operator. In 1952, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.[4] He became the youngest drill instructor in the history of the Corps[5] and served three tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded several times, before finally retiring with the rank of major in 1977.[5]

For Dunagan's service he received a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.[6] Dunagan kept his acting career a secret while serving in the Marines, but was eventually found out shortly before his retirement.[7] In 2004, he was located and exhaustively interviewed by horror film historian Tom Weaver in a special "Donnie Dunagan issue" of Video Watchdog magazine.

Dunagan is retired and (as of 2018) resides in San Angelo, Texas, with his wife, Dana.[8]

## Awards and decorations

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1st Row  | Bronze Star Medal | Purple Heart w/ 2 award stars

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2nd Row  | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat V | Army Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 1 award star
3rd Row  | Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
4th Row  | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ 3 service stars  | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star  | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
5th Row  | Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 service stars  | Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation | Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges  | Rifle Expert Badge | Pistol Expert Badge

## Filmography

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* Mother Carey's Chickens (1938) as Peter Carey (film debut)
* Son of Frankenstein (1939) as Peter von Frankenstein
* The Forgotten Woman (1939) as Terry Kennedy Jr.
* Tower of London (1939) as Baby Prince
* Vigil in the Night (1940) as Tommy (uncredited)
* Meet the Chump (1941) as Little Boy (uncredited)
* Bambi (1942) as Young Bambi (voice, final film role)

## References

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1. ^ "A Discussion With Donnie Dunagun: The Voice Of Bambi". MouseInfo.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
2. ^ Murray, Angus Wolfe (2011). "A profile of Donnie Dunagan, The Voice of Bambi". iofilm.co.uk. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
3. ^ NPR Staff (July 31, 2015). "Major Bambi: Meet The Marine Who Was Disney's Famous Fawn". NPR.
4. ^ Brooks, Xan (February 16, 2005). "How Bambi fought the Viet Cong". The Guardian. London: GMG. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
5. ^ a b Westbrook, Bruce (March 7, 2005). "Marine reflects on being the voice of Bambi". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
6. ^ https://www.9thmcd.marines.mil/In-the-News/Stories/Article/Article/547817/retired-marine-honored-during-classic-movie-screening/
7. ^ https://www.npr.org/2015/07/31/427821763/major-bambi-meet-the-marine-who-was-disney-s-famous-fawn
8. ^ https://www.goodfellow.af.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/1692981/voice-of-bambi-donnie-dunagan-supports-goodfellow/

## External links

[edit]

* Biography portal

Wikiquote has quotations related to Donnie Dunagan.

* Donnie Dunagan at IMDb

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