- Voice Actor Charles Martinet Steps Down as Mario
- Chris Pratt Voiced Mario in 2023 Movie
- Martinet Continues as Mario Ambassador for Nintendo
The voice actor behind Nintendo’s iconic character Mario, Charles Martinet, will step down, the gaming behemoth has announced.
Since 1996, beginning with Super Mario 64, the actor has portrayed the Italian plumber in video games.
However, he did not provide the vocal for the protagonist in this year’s film. This distinction was awarded to Chris Pratt.
Nintendo announced the news on X, stating that collaborating with Martinet, 67, was an “honor.”
Martinet will continue to represent Nintendo as a “Mario ambassador,” and he appeared satisfied with his new position.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the latest game featuring the heroic Italian, was announced earlier this year, and the trailer prompted some fans to speculate that Martinet had been replaced.
According to a statement released by Nintendo on Monday, “he will no longer record character voices for our games, but he will continue to travel the globe spreading the joy of Mario and interacting with you!
“It has been a privilege to work with Charles to bring Mario to life for so many years, and we would like to salute and honor him. Please be on the lookout for a future video message from Shigeru Miyamoto (the originator of Mario) and Charles himself.”
Box office sensation
Since 1996, Martinet has provided the character’s vocal in multiple games, including the Mario Kart and Mario Party series.
Though Martinet has become synonymous with Mario, it was Hollywood A-lister Pratt who portrayed the famous tradesmen in 2023’s enormously successful film; Martinet provided the voices of Giuseppe and Mario’s father.
Martinet also supplied the voices for other characters in the Mario series, such as Mario’s brother Luigi, rivals Wario and Waluigi, and the infant versions of the characters.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder and a remake of Super Mario RPG are scheduled for release later this year on the Nintendo Switch, making 2023 a monumental year for the Mario franchise. The Mario movie grossed more than $1 billion at the box office.
