Donnie Dunagan

Last updated
Donnie Dunagan
DonnieDunaganOct30-14.jpg
Dunagan in October 2014
Born
Donald Roan Dunagan

(1934-08-16) August 16, 1934 (age 89)
OccupationActor
Years active1938–1942 (as an actor)
Known forOriginal voice of Bambi in Walt Disney's Bambi
Military career
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps
Years of service1952–1977
Rank US-O4 insignia.svg Major
Battles/wars
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart

Donald "Donnie" 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 ]

Contents

Biography

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 Marines' youngest-ever drill instructor [5] [ citation needed ] 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. Dunagan kept his acting career a secret while serving in the Marines, [5] but in 2004, he was located and exhaustively interviewed by horror film historian Tom Weaver in a special "Donnie Dunagan issue" of Video Watchdog magazine. He is retired and currently[ as of? ] lives in San Angelo, Texas, with his wife.

Awards and decorations

Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Purple Heart ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg "V" device, gold.svg Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg
Combat Action Ribbon.svg United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg
USMC Rifle Expert badge.png USMC Pistol Expert badge.png
1st Row Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart
2nd Row Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat V Army Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 2 award stars
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/ 4 service stars Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges Rifle Expert Badge Pistol Expert Badge

Filmography

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References

  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. 1 2 3 Westbrook, Bruce (March 7, 2005). "Marine reflects on being the voice of Bambi". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved 9 April 2012.