Mario Voice Actor Charles Martinet Reflects on Iconic Role

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You might not know the name Charles Martinet, but chances are you know his voice. He’s been the voice of Mario since 1996, starting with the game Super Mario 64, and is instantly recognizable to gamers and many others around the world.

Charles Martinet revealed his approach for voicing Mario:

After I was cast and started recording Mario’s voice, I really developed his personality. I decided he would be cheerful, kind, respectful, and funny. Mario is meant to have a positive influence on…

— Stealth (@Stealth40k) February 4, 2026

In a recent interview, Martinet shared how he got the role and how he’s approached playing Mario.

Finding Mario’s Voice

Most gamers know Mario first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. He later starred in his own game in 1983, but really became famous with Super Mario Bros. in 1985. Surprisingly, Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, confessed that when he auditioned for the role eleven years later, he hadn’t even heard of Mario or Nintendo.

Maybe approaching the character with an open mind was key. Charles Martinet explained that he didn’t want to create a stereotypical, harsh-sounding Italian plumber – someone who might frighten kids or seem like a villain. He always aims for kindness in his comedic work, and wasn’t sure if children would be part of the audience, so he kept that in mind.

It’s hard to picture Mario delivering his famous lines – “It’s a-me, Mario,” “Wahoo,” and “Let’s-a go!” – with a tough, intimidating voice, like a gangster.

More Than a Plumber

Through his many years of voicing Mario, Charles Martinet played a big role in defining the character’s personality. He established Mario as cheerful, kind, polite, and funny. Martinet believes Mario has a positive influence on kids, and that’s what truly makes the character special.

I still remember being amazed by Mario when he first popped up in Donkey Kong. Honestly, I don’t think anyone could have predicted just how huge he’d become. But for me, and I think for a lot of us who grew up with him, Mario isn’t just a character – he feels really special and someone you can genuinely connect with.

According to Mario’s voice actor, Charles Martinet, while Mario is a hero, everyone faces their own challenges and grows throughout life. He believes we all have struggles and learn new things, ultimately becoming the heroes of our own personal journeys.

A Feeling of Joy

Martinet approaches acting as a way to fully immerse himself in a role and share a part of himself with the audience. He describes it as letting go and drawing on inner energy, especially when performing for animation or video games, to create something powerful and expansive.

Besides Mario, he’s lent his voice to numerous other Nintendo characters. However, portraying the famous plumber seems to be the most rewarding part of his career. He shared, “It’s amazing to meet Mario fans at events. Hearing their stories about growing up with the games – playing with their parents, grandparents, and even their own kids – brings me incredible joy.”

I definitely recognized his voice when I saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie last year! It wasn’t Mario himself – Chris Pratt did a great job with that – but he voiced Mario’s dad, Giuseppe. But honestly, for me, and I think for so many of us who grew up playing Mario games, he is the voice of Mario. He’s the one I always hear in my head when I think of the heroic plumber!

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2026-02-07 00:57