Voice of Mario Steps Back After 27 Years

 

After 27 years of bringing the beloved Italian plumber to life for Nintendo, Charles Martinet is stepping away from his role as the voice actor for Mario. The 67-year-old actor originated the character in the 1996 video game “Super Mario 64,” and he also lent his voice to Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi.

Nintendo, now known as X, has announced on Twitter that Martinet will be taking on the role of “Mario ambassador.” Despite no longer providing character voices for video games, Mario will continue his global tours and interactions with fans.

Speculation among fans has arisen about Martinet’s absence from the upcoming game “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” with some detecting a different voice in promotional videos. The announcement aligns with these rumors. Nintendo confirms that Martinet didn’t voice Mario in the new game, but the identity of the replacement voice actor remains undisclosed.