Super Mario voice actor Charles Martinet retires after 32 years

Charles Martinet, Mario’s original voice actor, is retiring. Nintendo has confirmed this. Martinet has played the Italian plumber since 1991. He will now become a “Mario ambassador” and continue to interact with fans, the company says.

Nintendo announced Monday afternoon that Charles Martinet will stop narrating characters for the company. Martinet will now become a ‘Mario ambassador’, Nintendo writes. The 67-year-old voice actor will “continue to travel the world sharing the fun of Mario” and interacting with fans, the company said.

The Japanese gaming giant does not give a reason for Martinet’s departure. “My new adventure begins! You are all numba one in my heart,” wrote Martinet on Monday afternoon. Martinet and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto will soon share a ‘special video message’. It is not yet known who will voice Mario’s lines in future games.

Charles Martinet has been the voice of Mario since 1991, when he voiced the character at conventions and trade shows. In 1996, Martinet’s voice was first used in a major game, Super Mario 64. In the following years, he also spoke for characters such as Luigi, Waluigi and Wario. However, in the Super Mario movie, Mario was voiced by Chris Pratt.

Mario voice actor Charles Martinet. Source: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0