Who is Charles Martinet?
Charles Martinet, original voice actor for Mario, the beloved Italian plumber, is stepping down from the role after three decades. Born in California but raised in Barcelona and Paris, Martinet discovered his talent for dialects and accents while studying drama. This skill proved crucial in creating Mario's distinctive exaggerated Italian-American accent.
When did Martinet start voicing Mario?
Martinet landed the role of Mario in 1991 when Nintendo was looking for a voice for their mascot. He was hired to portray the character for an interactive system called Mario in Real-Time. The first video game where Martinet provided full dialogue for Mario was 1995's Mario's Game Gallery. However, it was in 1996's Super Mario 64 that most fans first heard Martinet's voice as Mario.
Why is Martinet stepping down?
Martinet is stepping back from voicing Mario but will take on the new role of Mario Ambassador. Although Nintendo has not specified the responsibilities of this role, they have mentioned that Martinet will continue to travel the world and share the joy of Mario with fans.
Who else did Martinet voice?
In addition to Mario, Martinet has lent his voice to other characters in the Super Mario franchise. He has portrayed Mario's brother Luigi, as well as the arch-rivals Wario and Waluigi. He has also voiced special versions of Mario, like Metal Mario and Shadow Mario. Additionally, Martinet has provided voices for Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Wario, and various Boo ghosts.
Did Martinet voice Luigi?
Yes, Martinet has also been the voice of Luigi for almost three decades. In games like Mario Kart 64 and the Luigi's Mansion series, Martinet has brought Mario's twin brother to life.
