Charles Martinet, the voice behind Nintendo’s most famous video game character, is to step down from his role as Mario's voice actor.
The 67-year-old will become a “Mario Ambassador" and travel the world to promote the beloved plumber, signing autographs and performing Nintendo character voices.
Martinet created the now iconic voice during a late audition which was being held as the casting directors packed up for the day. He would first voice the character in 1994 game, Mario Teaches Typing before his first proper appearance as the famous Italian plumber in 1996 game, Super Mario 64.
Aside from Mario, the actor has also voiced several Nintendo characters and has worked on film and TV projects as well as other video game series.
Here are 10 roles you never knew Mario actor Charles Martinet voiced.
1. Paarthurnax – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
One of the game’s friendly dragons, Paarthurnax is Skyrim’s sole white dragon who rests at the Throat of the World. Charles Martinet departs from his typical voice, instead speaking in deep, gravelly tones perfectly suited to such a creature. Image: Linda Rain 714/Flickr
2. Luigi / Waluigi / Baby Luigi – Super Mario series
Having appeared as these characters in too many games to name, not only did Charles Martinet portray Mario, he has also appeared as Luigi in the majority of the games in the series. This includes Baby Luigi and Waluigi – the character’s lanky rival. Image: Getty/Unsplash
3. Senator Wilson Phillips, Speedwagon Foundation Pilot – JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a beloved anime and manga, so much so that it appeared in the British Museum during a Manga exhibition in 2019 with art Araki Hirohiko appearing. As for Charles Martinet, he appeared in the 1993 original video animation adaptation of Stardust Crusaders. The third part of the series, Martinet voiced two characters in separate episodes; Senator Wilson Phillips and a Speedwagon Foundation Pilot. Image: Getty
4. The Narrator – High Score
Released in 2020 Netflix docuseries High Score traces the history of classic video games with Martinet, appropriately, acting as the narrator. Image: Netflix