Donnie Dunagan, who provided the original voice of Disney’s Bambi, died Wednesday (November 4) of lung cancer, his reps confirmed to Variety. He was 92 years old.
“We were proud to represent a Marine, beloved by fans around the world for his roles in ‘Bambi’ and ‘Son of Frankenstein,'” said his agents Kris Jones and Nery Lemus of CelebWorx. Variety. “Although he asked us (in his words) not to be sad because of the good life I lived, it would be wrong not to share the impact Donnie had on people when they met him. His love for life showed through his encouragement. He knew how to inspire us and inspired us to be the best we could be. He had an infectious smile, a warmth and charisma that never wavered the childlike spirit of his early acting days He rallied fellow veterans, loved his fans, and most of all, loved his wife. We will always love you Donnie, you were the best of us.
Dunagan was born on August 16, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas, but his family soon moved to Hollywood after a talent agent spotted him when he was three. He made his film debut in “Mary Carey’s Chickens” in 1938, then played Peter von Frankenstein in “Son of Frankenstein” in 1939 (the grandson of the original mad scientist turned monster creator). He also appeared in “The Forgotten Woman” (1939), “Tower of London” (1939), “Vigil in the Night” (1940) and “Meet the Chump” (1941). In 1942, he played young Bambi in Disney’s beloved animated film.
After “Bambi,” Dunagan enlisted in the U.S. Marines and became the youngest drill sergeant in the Corps’ history. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam and retired as a major in 1977. For his service, he received a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.
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