Background
Dunagan was born in San Antonio, Texas, but his family soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they struggled with poverty.
Dunagan was born in San Antonio, Texas, but his family soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they struggled with poverty.
He was a voice actor in the Bambi film, providing the voice of Young Bambi. Spotted by a studio talent scout, the family moved to Hollywood, where Dunagan appeared in a series of films and soon became his family"s main breadwinner. His career ended after he provided the voice for the young fawn in Walt Disney"s Bambi.
By the age of 13, Dunagan was living in a boarding house and working as a lathe operator.
In 1952, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He became the Marines" youngest-ever drill instructor and served three tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded several times, before finally retiring in 1977 with the rank of Major.
Foreign his service he received a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Dunagan has said in interviews that he kept his acting career a secret while serving in the Marines.