Died actor Donnie Dunaghan, who voiced Bambi in the Disney cartoon

American actor Donnie Dunaghan, who voiced the deer Bambi in the Disney cartoon of the same name, died at the age of 92 years, The Hollywood Reporter reported, citing writer and film historian Tom Weaver.

Danagan passed away on Wednesday, November 4. The cause of his death was lung cancer.

Donnie Dunaghan was born on August 16, 1934 in San Antonio, Texas. His family soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee. At the age of three, the boy won a local talent contest, after which he was noticed by a Hollywood actor search agent. The family moved to California, where Danagan began acting in films.

One of the first notable works of Danagan was the role of Peter von Frankenstein in the film Son of Frankenstein (1939). At the age of six and a half, the actor got the role of a young Bambi in the Disney cartoon of the same name, released in 1942. He not only voiced the deer, but also helped the animators create his image: the boy posed for artists so that they could convey the facial expressions and movements of the child. According to Danagan, Walt Disney personally contacted his mother to offer him the job.

After the release of Bambi, Danagan ended his acting career. In 1952, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During 25 years of service, he participated in combat missions in Vietnam three times, was awarded three medals “Purple Heart” and the Bronze Star. In 1977, he retired as a major.

During the service, Danagan hid from his colleagues that he voiced Bambi as a child: he feared that he would be called “Major Bambi”. After his retirement, Danagan again began to talk about his work in film. He participated in events dedicated to the cartoon and collaborated with Disney.