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I was the voice of Bambi – and kept it secret for years

Donnie Dunagan was born in 1934 and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, in the midst of the Great Depression. After winning a talent show aged four he was scouted and whisked to Hollywood where he starred in several movies – including a part as the voice of Walt Disney’s iconic animated deer Bambi in 1942. But WWII would put a halt to his movie career, and Donnie eventually became a US Marine – never telling anyone about his Hollywood history until he was publicly unmasked in 2004.

On the 80th anniversary of Bambi’s release, he tells Outlook’s Mobeen Azhar about the moment he was rediscovered - and why he’s now finally embracing his role in cinematic history.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Zoe Gelber

(Photo: 1940s newspaper clipping of Donnie Dunagan and Bambi Poster. Credit: (R) Courtesy of Donnie and Dana Dunagan. (L) LMPC via Getty Images)

Release date:

Duration:

4 minutes