How a last-minute audition for a plumber role defined a generation of gaming

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Charles Martinet was not supposed to be Mario. He arrived at a 1991 trade show audition just as directors were packing up. By ditching a harsh, stereotypical accent for something softer and friendlier, he secured a role that would span over one hundred titles and define the character for decades.

Martinet’s path to becoming the voice of Mario was unconventional. After abandoning his university studies in history and politics, he took acting classes to overcome a fear of public speaking. Influenced by a classmate’s traumatic experience with a heckler, Martinet adopted a personal rule to never use his comedy to cause harm. This philosophy shaped his portrayal of Mario, which he modeled after Gremio from Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. His early work involved 'Mario in Real-Time' (MIRT), a pioneering digital puppetry system where he used motion capture to interact live with fans at trade shows.

His formal debut as the voice of Mario came in 1995’s Mario’s Game Gallery, followed by the landmark Super Mario 64 in 1996. During the recording for that game, Martinet improvised many of the character's iconic catchphrases and even suggested that Mario dreams of pasta when left idle. His dedication to the role earned him a Guinness World Record for the most performances of the same character in video games. Beyond Mario, he voiced characters like Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, as well as roles in other franchises, including Paarthurnax in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

In 2023, Martinet retired from voicing the Mario franchise to become an official 'Mario Ambassador.' While Kevin Afghani took over the voice acting duties, Martinet continues to represent the brand at global events. His transition marked the end of an era that began with a chance encounter on a beach and evolved into a career defined by joy, happiness, and a deep connection with fans worldwide. Today, he resides in the Netherlands, having left behind a legacy that remains embedded in the digital architecture of the Mario universe.

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