Charles Martinet, the voice behind Nintendo’s most famous video game character, is to step down from his role as Mario's voice actor.
The 67-year-old will become a “Mario Ambassador" and travel the world to promote the beloved plumber, signing autographs and performing Nintendo character voices.
Martinet created the now iconic voice during a late audition which was being held as the casting directors packed up for the day. He would first voice the character in 1994 game, Mario Teaches Typing before his first proper appearance as the famous Italian plumber in 1996 game, Super Mario 64.
Aside from Mario, the actor has also voiced several Nintendo characters and has worked on film and TV projects as well as other video game series.
Here are 10 roles you never knew Mario actor Charles Martinet voiced.
9. William Shakespeare/Ludwig van Beethoven – Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time
Released in 1999, Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time is a point and click edutainment game for PC and Mac. A remake of the 1989 game Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, Charles Martinet pulls double duty appearing as both William Shakespeare and Ludwig van Beethoven at different points in time. Images: Getty | Getty Images/Archives
10. Bowser – Super Mario 64
This one may be cheating a little, but Martinet provided the voice effects for Bowser for the 1996 game. It was the first time that Bowser had been given any distinct vocal sounds and it was apparently Martinet’s laugh — recorded before his Mario debut – which was slowed down and used to create the villainous crackle of Bowser. Image: Getty | AFP via Getty Images