After a dedicated career spanning 27 years, Charles Martinet, the voice actor synonymous with Nintendo’s beloved character Super Mario, has announced his retirement.
At 67 years old, the American voice actor initially took on the role of the spirited Italian plumber in the 1996 release, Super Mario 64. Notably, Martinet also lent his voice to Mario’s twin brother, Luigi, and the mischievous Wario.
Nintendo issued a statement confirming, “Charles will now take on the new role of Mario ambassador. As he transitions, he will be stepping back from providing character voices for our games, but he will continue to spread Mario’s joy around the world and engage with all of you! It has been an absolute honor collaborating with Charles to breathe life into Mario for so many years, and we express our gratitude and admiration for him. Keep an eye out for a special video message from (video game designer and Mario creator) Shigeru Miyamoto and Charles himself, which will be shared at a later date.”
Martinet shared the announcement, along with his own input: “A new adventure awaits me! You all hold a special place in my heart! Woohoo!!!!!!”
Responses from fans echoed their appreciation for his extensive contributions to the gaming world. “Your work has been a source of inspiration since my childhood,” wrote fellow voice actor Gianni Matragrano. “Mario’s cheerful and determined escapades influenced me during my youth, and as an adult, you’ve motivated me in understanding the role of a voice actor and, more importantly, being a good human being. Thank you. Enjoy your new journey!”
Another tweet read, “There’s something poignant about @CharlesMartinet concluding his tenure as Mario’s voice with his ultimate performance being the FATHER of Mario,” alluding to Martinet’s role in the recent animated adaptation, The Super Mario Bros Movie.
In the film, the character was voiced by Chris Pratt, star of Guardians Of The Galaxy, with Luigi portrayed by Charlie Day from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
Interestingly, Martinet portrayed Luigi and Mario’s father Giuseppe in the Universal Pictures movie, which achieved over $1 billion in box office earnings, according to studio estimates.
The upcoming addition to Nintendo’s series will be titled Super Mario Bros Wonder.
Martinet’s involvement extends beyond Mario, having contributed to games such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time, as well as the movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
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