Original Mario Voice Actor Retires, Nintendo Issues Statement

Charles Martinet and Shigeru Miyamoto have explained Martinet’s new role as ‘Mario Ambassador’.

Years ago I met Charles Martinet at E3. We shot a quick video where I said “It’s a-you?” and he shrieked “It’s a-me!” in the voice. I was so taken aback that I said “Holy Sh*t!” – He immediately took me aside and asked me not to post the video, as it would be inappropriate for children. We ended up posting it anyway, with my swear bleeped out, and it was a cute, hopefully inoffensive bit of fun. But what I really took away from that moment is how much Charles Martinet cares about his fans. He wants to fill their hearts with hope and joy, and not whatever the opposite of those two things is. That may be why we still haven’t heard exactly why he’s no longer the voice of Mario in the games.

It was a surprise to fans worldwide when we discovered that the iconic character, Mario, would receive a new voice actor. Nintendo’s flagship character had been voiced for decades by Charles Martinet. This actor has been offering his talents to Nintendo to give Mario those iconic phrases fans have become familiar with. But after his lengthy run, it looks like Charles was ready to hang up his cap and pass the torch. Unfortunately, we’re not sure just who that torch has been passed on to. 

We may have heard Mario and Luigi’s new voices in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but Nintendo will not be confirming who is voicing them until the game’s release, according to Nintendo president Doug Bowser.

We won't find out who the new voice of Mario is until the credits of Super Mario Bros. Wonder roll. 

It's been 11 years since the last proper Mario side-scroller, a fact that surprises Nintendo's veteran exec Takashi Tezuka when I point it out. Tezuka has worked on dozens of projects since the launch of 2012's New Super Mario Bros. U — including Super Mario Maker, Nintendo's create-your-own-Mario sandbox. Still, such a wait for more handcrafted Mario levels seems notable.

Charles Martinet has been the voice of Nintendo's mascot Mario since 1996, but no more. Nintendo has announced that the actor is to step down from the role, and will instead act as a «Mario ambassador» in the future, which is all rather ceremonial and full of pomp for a gig that mainly involves shouting «wa-hoo!»

Charles Martinet is stepping back as the voice of Mario in Nintendo games.

When Nintendo first dropped the trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder a number of sharp-eared fans noticed something a little different about the game – it sounded like someone else was voicing the game. But that must have been a mistake! Charles Martinet has reliably provided the voice for Mario (and Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and others) for years! Sure, Chris Pratt lent his pipes to the new movie, but Nintendo wouldn’t replace Charles in the actual games, right?

The existence of the upcoming Super Mario RPG remake means that, at long last, the 1996 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is receiving a new breath of life. Announced at the Nintendo Direct on June 21, 2023, we can expect to see this anticipated RPG arrive in November this year.

Martinet is «stepping back» from voicing Mario and transitioning into a new role.

Charles Martinet, the original voice of Mario, will step back from recording voices for Mario games and move into the new role of “Mario Ambassador,” Nintendo announced.