Charles Martinet, the voice of Nintendo’s beloved Mario character, steps down

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Charles Martinet, the unique voice of Mario in Nintendo video games for the reason that Nineteen Nineties, is stepping down.

Nintendo of America confirmed Monday that Martinet will now serve within the function of “Mario Ambassador,” touring around the globe to advertise the beloved plumber, signing autographs and performing Nintendo character voices.

“It’s been a privilege working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him,” Nintendo stated in a press release.

In addition to being the unique voice of Mario, he’s additionally voiced Luigi, Wario and Waluigi within the video video games. While he didn’t voice Mario within the latest film, he did have a small function as Mario’s dad.

In a query and reply session at a Canadian gaming and comics expo two years in the past, Martinet informed the viewers “I want to voice Mario until I drop dead” in response to a fan’s query, in accordance with gaming weblog The Game Crater. But he added “if someday I think I am no longer capable of doing it, I will tell Nintendo to look into finding someone else.”