Biography

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.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tom Weaver

Sometime after his parents divorced, his mother died and he was placed in an orphanage. At 13, he worked as a lathe operator after school and won a college football scholarship. He joined the Marine Corps, rising to become the youngest ever drill instructor, reaching the rank of Major. He served as a Counter Intelligence Officer for Defense Intelligence Agency, and as a Force Recon Commander during three tours in Vietnam . His awards include the Bronze Star, 3 Purple Hearts, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, with V device, The Army Commendation Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Having fought a member of the Viet Cong and being presumed dead he was rolled over and was knifed below his ribs. As he fell one of his sergeants shot the enemy causing him to recall the image of Bambi's father coming up to stand over the youngster after his mother had been killed and saying "Bambi, you must get up". After his war service he was away at a boxing demonstration when his secret of being the voice of Bambi was discovered by his wife who found two boxes full of photographs and fan mail. When she asked him what they were he said that he was in films for awhile when he was a kid. His wife told a friend who on repeating the fact to someone else was overheard by a reporter.
- IMDb mini biography by: tonyman5

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.

[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.

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.

[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.