Charles Martinet Officially Retires as Mario's Voice Actor

Charles Martinet is an American voice actor best known for his iconic role as the voice of Mario, the beloved Nintendo video game character. He has provided the voice for Mario in numerous video games and other media since 1995. Martinet's portrayal of Mario, with his enthusiastic and cheerful voice, has become synonymous with the character and has endeared him to fans around the world.

Martinet's work as Mario has extended beyond just video games. He has lent his voice to various Mario-related projects, including animated TV shows, movies, and theme park attractions. In addition to Mario, he has also voiced other characters in the Mario universe, such as Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and various Toads.

Charles Martinet's journey into voice acting began unexpectedly when he auditioned for the role of Mario at a trade show. His unique take on the character, which he described as a mix of a plumber from Brooklyn and a superhero, won him the role. Since then, he has been an integral part of Mario's evolution and success in the gaming industry.

Beyond his work as Mario, Charles Martinet has also lent his voice to other video game characters and projects, although his association with the Mario franchise remains his most prominent achievement. He has made appearances at gaming events, conventions, and fan gatherings, where he often interacts with fans and embraces his role as a beloved figure in the gaming community.

Charles Martinet has been the voice of Super Mario basically forever, but Nintendo just announced via their official Twitter account that he won't perform in the role going forward.