Charles Martinet

Charles Andre Martinet is a celebrated American voice actor. He is most famous for his long career as the voice of Mario. For over three decades, Martinet brought the iconic Nintendo character to life. He also provided voices for many other characters in the Mario franchise. These include Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and the baby versions of Mario and Luigi. His work helped define the personality of these beloved digital figures.

Martinet's journey into acting began with a personal challenge. In his youth, he was a shy person who felt much anxiety. When he was about 20 years old, a friend encouraged him to take acting classes. He hoped these classes would help him overcome his fear of public speaking. His first role was a monologue from the Spoon River Anthology. This early step led him to an apprenticeship at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Later, he attended the Drama Studio London to refine his professional skills. At this school, he discovered a specific talent for using different accents and dialects.

In 1991, Martinet's career changed forever during a chance encounter. While on a beach, a friend called to tell him about an audition. The role required someone to talk like a plumber. Martinet went to the audition at the last minute. The casting directors described the character as an Italian plumber from Brooklyn. Initially, Martinet considered using a deep, raspy, stereotypical Italian American voice. However, he worried such a harsh sound might be too much for children to hear. He decided to create a softer, more friendly version instead. He even drew inspiration from the character Gremio in the play The Taming of the Shrew.

Martinet used innovative technology to interact with fans during his early years at Nintendo. He worked with a system called Mario in Real-Time, or MIRT. This system was developed by a company in Pasadena called SimGraphics. It allowed a 3D Mario head on a television screen to hold full conversations. A hidden camera setup allowed Martinet to see the people at the trade shows. A facial motion capture rig recorded his mouth movements. This technology synchronized his movements with the digital character on the screen. This process was a form of digital puppetry that served as a novelty at the time.

His relationship with the Mario series grew through deep collaboration. Martinet became acquainted with the series creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, while working with the MIRT system. For the landmark 1996 game Super Mario 64, Miyamoto requested Martinet for the role. Martinet traveled from Sausalito to Seattle to record at Bad Animals Studio. Much of his work for this game was unscripted. He used improvisation to create many of Mario's famous catchphrases. During one session, he even improvised the idea that Mario dreams of pasta while sleeping. This resulted in the lines "night nighty. Ahhh spaghetti, ahhh ravioli, ahhh mamma mia."

Martinet's professional achievements are documented by major global organizations. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized him for a massive milestone. He performed the same character in 100 different titles. This is the most any video game voice actor has ever achieved. Beyond Nintendo, he has voiced many other famous roles. He played the dragon Paarthurnax in the 2011 game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He also voiced Magenta in the 2022 film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. His voice work spans across commercials, cartoons, and even educational games.

In August 2023, Martinet transitioned into a new phase of his career. Nintendo of America announced that he would retire from providing voice acting for the Mario games. However, he did not leave the company entirely. He was given the official title of Mario Ambassador. This role allows him to promote the franchise by meeting fans at events. He can sign autographs and perform character voices at special gatherings. While he no longer voices the characters in new game releases, he continues to engage with the community. He expresses great enthusiasm for meeting the fans who love the Mario world.