Heartbreak as Disney legend dies after cancer diagnosis
Donnie Dunagan, the actor best known for voicing Young Bambi in Walt Disney's animated classic, has died at the age of 92. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dunagan, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer, passed away on Wednesday (4 November). He is survived by his wife, Dana. Born in Texas in 1934, Dunagan became a child actor after winning a talent contest at age three, catching the eye of an RKO scout. As a result, the young star travelled to LA with his parents and spent the next four years working in Hollywood.
TL;DR
- Donnie Dunagan, the voice of Young Bambi, died at 92 after a lung cancer diagnosis.
- He began his acting career at age three and worked in Hollywood for four years.
- Dunagan's most notable role was voicing Bambi in Disney's 1942 animated classic.
- Following his acting career, he joined the US Marines, served in Vietnam, and retired as a major.
- He never revealed his Bambi role during his military service.
- Tributes from fans acknowledged his contribution to childhoods across generations.