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.
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.
![Another beloved franchise, Martinet took a break from Mario to appear in Insomniac Games series Ratchet & Clank. Voicing Orvus, a major support character, in the 2009 PlayStation 3 game A Crack in Time he shows a different side to his talents.
Image: Insomniac Games/YouTube](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/22/10/Orvus%20Ratchet%20%26%20Clank%20Insomniac%20Games.jpg?trim=0,95,0,131&width=800)
5. Orvus – Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Another beloved franchise, Martinet took a break from Mario to appear in Insomniac Games series Ratchet & Clank. Voicing Orvus, a major support character, in the 2009 PlayStation 3 game A Crack in Time he shows a different side to his talents. Image: Insomniac Games/YouTube | Insomniac Games/YouTube
![Perhaps an obvious addition to the list considering Martinet is Mario, the actor is also Baby Mario and the plumber’s arch-rival (and Waluigi’s brother) Wario.
Image: Creative Tools/Flickr](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/22/10/4353112203_01ca7fb41f_o.jpg?trim=112,346,547,533&width=800)
6. Wario / Baby Mario – Super Mario series
Perhaps an obvious addition to the list considering Martinet is Mario, the actor is also Baby Mario and the plumber’s arch-rival (and Waluigi’s brother) Wario. Image: Creative Tools/Flickr | Creative Tools/Flickr
![Playing xenophobic business mogul Magenta, Martinet plays an excellent villain. Appearing in the 2022 anime film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – and later the Dragon Ball Legends game – the actor was part of the English dub cast.
Image: Getty Images/Sony/Crunchyroll/Toei Animation](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/22/10/Martinet%20Dragonball.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Magenta – Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero & Dragon Ball Legends
Playing xenophobic business mogul Magenta, Martinet plays an excellent villain. Appearing in the 2022 anime film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – and later the Dragon Ball Legends game – the actor was part of the English dub cast. Image: Getty Images/Sony/Crunchyroll/Toei Animation | Getty/Sony/Crunchyroll/Toei Animation
![Despite not appearing in the film as Mario, Martinet makes a small cameo in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as Mario and Luigi’s father, Giuseppe. The character’s voice is Martinet’s original Mario voice – a nice acknowledgement of his role in Nintendo’s history. Image: Getty](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/22/10/GettyImages-1250101717.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Mario and Luigi's father, Giuseppe – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Despite not appearing in the film as Mario, Martinet makes a small cameo in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as Mario and Luigi’s father, Giuseppe. The character’s voice is Martinet’s original Mario voice – a nice acknowledgement of his role in Nintendo’s history. Image: Getty | Getty Images for Nintendo, Illum