Super Mario Voice Actor Announces Retirement

The voice behind one of the most famous lines of our childhood: “It’s-a me, Mario!” is retiring. The Mushroom Kingdom is ready to let go of its original Mario.

Charles Martinet began his journey with Nintendo in 1991. His breakthrough moment as the voice of the iconic plumber came in 1996 with “Super Mario 64,” a pioneering 3D platform game that familiarized the world with Mario’s spirited Italian voice.

Throughout his career, Martinet lent his voice to Mario, as well as several other characters from the Mushroom Kingdom, including Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, contributing his talent to over 150 Nintendo games.

Nintendo and Mario Voice Actor Retirement Announcement

Charles Martinet, the iconic voice behind Nintendo’s Mario for nearly three decades, is stepping down from the role. Nintendo has announced that Martinet will now serve as a Mario ambassador, spreading the joy of the character at international events. Nintendo expressed gratitude for Martinet’s contributions, and Shigeru Miyamoto, the company’s executive, and Mario’s creator, will soon join Martinet for a special video message.

Martinet’s voice has been synonymous with Mario in numerous beloved games, including “Super Mario 64” in 1996, “Mario Kart Wii” in 2008, and “Mario Party Superstars” in 2021. His distinct Italian-accented falsetto has become an essential part of Mario’s identity, alongside his red hat and mustache, making the character instantly recognizable worldwide.

The voice actor took to “X” (formerly known as Twitter), to thank his fans for all the love and dedication. The tweet reads:

“My new Adventure begins! You are all Numba One in my heart! #woohoo !!!!!!!”

Martinet’s Transformation Into Mario

Charles Martinet, the voice behind Mario and other iconic Nintendo characters, shared his audition story. He crashed an audition Nintendo held in the early ’90s for potential Marios. At the audition, a casting director asked him to create a voice for an Italian plumber from Brooklyn named Mario. Martinet immediately responded with a pizza-making demonstration in Mario’s Italian-accented voice, impressing Mario’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. This led to his first role as Mario in the 1994 CD-ROM game “Mario Teaches Typing.”

However, most Mario fans got to know Martinet in 1996 when “Super Mario 64” was released. In this groundbreaking 3D game, Martinet provided Mario’s signature sounds, which became synonymous with the character. He has also lent his voice to other Mushroom Kingdom residents, including Mario’s brother, Luigi, baby versions of the plumbers, and their rivals, Wario and Waluigi.

Whether you are a Nintendo fan or not, you have definitely at least heard one of Mario’s famous lines before! Fans grew up with Charles’ voice and excitement for the next generation Mario’s voice is now higher than ever. People are definitely looking forward to a new announcement, and until then, “Game over!“.