Quotes

One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I didn't have the courage to tell my close personal friends in the Marine Corps that I had been a part of the wonderful work of Mr. Disney. It was the Marine Corps of the Marine Corps. If I had picked up the nickname "Bambi" I would have been history. Still it's something I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself for.

[asked how he feels about being known as the voice of Bambi] Wonderful. Not many would understand this, if they had a clue of even half of my teen and long adult life. The reality is, at age 77, it is pure joy that both children and 80 year-olds can enjoy the film together. I could be working in the White House and children could care less. But let someone say, 'that dude over there was the face, or voice of Bambi,' and I am an immediate adopted grandfather to them. That is just an unmatchable joy, and a real responsibility.

I'm a sensitive man. When I had my first casualties as a lieutenant, I had a hard time controlling my emotions, but I had a strong sergeant with me who kept me from doing something stupid. I've been around some real tough guys, and I promise you on my honor: The strongest guys I've known in life would pick up a wounded baby kitty on the side of the road. Yet you wouldn't want to go against them in combat. That is not inconsistent. It is part of the same ethos.

[on the death scene in 'Bambi'] That was the only thing that bothered me - nobody told me when I recorded the line 'Mother! Mother!' what it was about. But back then, there was a war going on, and a lot of children's mothers were dying. I think it was very, very smart to have it happen off-camera.