Mario Voice Actor Retires

Charles Martinet, the voice actor behind the iconic Nintendo video game character Mario, will step away from the role and become an ambassador for the brand. The move caps a 32-year stint as the diminutive plumber, during which Martinet achieved a Guinness World Record for the most video game voiceovers as the same character.

Born in 1955 in San Jose, California, Martinet was first hired by Nintendo in 1991 to portray Mario live at trade shows. Although the first official recorded use of his voice was in 1994's Mario Teaches Typing, Martinet's high-pitched "Waa-hoo!" and "It's-a-me, Mario!" rose to broad awareness in 1996 via Super Mario 64, the bestselling Nintendo 64 game. He eventually voiced over a dozen other characters across roughly 150 games.

The announcement comes two months ahead of Nintendo's next Mario release, Super Mario Bros. Wonder (see trailer), which will not feature Martinet's voice.