Donnie Dunagan, Who Voiced Young Bambi in Disney's 'Bambi,' Dies at 92

Donnie Dunagan, the former child actor who voiced young Bambi in Disney's 1942 classic "Bambi," has died at 92. Dunagan died Wednesday, Nov. 4, of lung cancer, his agents confirmed. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news, citing film historian Tom Weaver.

After his brief Hollywood career, Dunagan spent 25 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and kept his famous role a secret for decades.

A Child Star by Age 3

Born Donald Roan Dunagan on Aug. 16, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas, he began performing when he was just 3 years old. After he won a tap-dancing competition in Memphis, Tennessee, an RKO talent scout helped his family move to Los Angeles, according to IBTimes UK.

He made his screen debut in the 1938 film "Mother Carey's Chickens." In 1939, he played Basil Rathbone's son in "Son of Frankenstein," which also starred Boris Karloff, and he appeared in "Tower of London" that same year.

Becoming Bambi

Dunagan was 6 years old when he was chosen for the role of young Bambi, according to The Guardian. He landed the part after Walt Disney unexpectedly called his mother himself to ask for his help. He later recalled that Disney asked him to "help his artist put a child's expression on a deer," Yahoo Entertainment reported. He shared that memory in a 2025 interview with voice actor Jim Cummings.

He spent more than a year at Disney's studio in Burbank working on the film. To record Bambi's cry, Dunagan said he thought about his own mother, whom he had not seen for a few hours, and that it "produced that voice."

"Bambi" was the seventh and final film of his career. The older version of the character was voiced by Hardie Albright, KWQC reported.

The film's portrayal of hunting also stirred controversy. Dunagan later said he received hate mail from hunting advocates because of it.

A Decorated Marine With a Secret

Dunagan left show business behind and joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952, at age 18. He went on to serve 25 years, including three tours in Vietnam. He earned a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts and retired as a major in 1977.

According to People, he became the youngest drill instructor in Marine Corps history. He later served as a counterintelligence officer and a Force Recon commander.

Throughout his military career, Dunagan kept his Bambi role to himself, and many of the Marines he trained never knew about it. He disliked bragging and worried that fellow Marines would start calling him "Major Bambi."

He later described keeping that secret as "one of the biggest regrets of my life."

After retiring from the military, Dunagan worked for financial companies in New York, Los Angeles and San Antonio. He later became chief executive of Pace Corp. in Los Angeles.

Reconnecting With Disney

Decades after the film's release, Disney learned Dunagan was still alive and invited him to take part in a "Bambi" DVD release. He went on to attend fan conventions and film festivals over the years, where he shared stories with fans about his time working on the beloved animated movie.

In May 2017, he attended a 75th-anniversary screening of "Bambi" at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In a 2015 interview with The Guardian, Dunagan called his part in the film "an unmatchable joy, and a real responsibility."

His agents, Kris Jones and Nery Lemus, confirmed his death on Instagram. In their tribute, they described him as "a marine" and said he loved his wife. Dunagan is survived by his wife, Dana, whom he married in 1992.

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