Charles Martinet is an American actor and voice actor best known for voicing
Mario in the Super Mario video game series. He has voiced Mario, the titular
character in Nintendo's flagship video game franchise since 1995. He also
voices Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and
others. Career
Working for Nintendo since 1994, Martinet started voicing Mario at video
game trade shows in which attendees would walk up to a TV screen displaying
a 3-D Mario head that moved around the screen and talked. This system was
called Mario in Real-Time or MIRT and was developed by Pasadena based
SimGraphics. Martinet could see the attendees by means of a hidden camera
setup, and a facial motion capture rig recorded his mouth movements in order to
synchronize Martinet's mouth movement with the on-screen Mario mouth movement.
This digital puppetry, with Martinet's comic performance, was a novelty at the
time. Martinet was told by his friend that
there was going to be an audition at a trade show in which you "talk to people
as a plumber". He went to the audition at the last minute as the casting
directors were already putting away their equipment. Charles Martinet walked
in and asked, "Can I please read for this?". The directors let him audition
and told him, "You're an Italian plumber from Brooklyn". At first Martinet
planned to talk like a stereotypical Italian American with a deep, raspy
voice. He then thought to himself that it would be too harsh for children to
hear, so he made it more soft-hearted and friendly, resulting in what Mario's
voice is today. Martinet has also stated that he kept on talking with his Mario
voice until the audition tape ran out. He says that Petruchio from William
Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew was an inspiration for his portrayal of Mario.
Martinet's video game voice over debut was as Mario in the 1995 Windows release
of Interplay's game Mario's FUNdamentals. However, most were first
exposed to Mario's voice in the landmark 1996 game Super Mario 64. He has voiced
Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, Metal Mario, Shadow Mario,
Piantas, Mini-Mario Toys, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi and Baby Wario in most games
wherein these characters speak. He also voiced the enemies Wart, Mouser,
Tryclyde, and Clawgrip in Super Mario Advance. His voice work appears in the
English and Japanese language versions of the games.
Martinet provided voiceover acting for the boxers and the announcer in the
Super NES title Super Punch-Out!!. He voiced the character Vigoro in Sega's
Dreamcast and Nintendo GameCube role-playing video game, Skies of
Arcadia. He did the voice of Homunculus in the Konami PlayStation 2, Xbox and
Windows game Shadow of Destiny, and provided voices for Reader Rabbit and
The ClueFinders games. Charles Martinet wanted to voice Link in The Legend of
Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but Shigeru Miyamoto told him that Link would remain
without a voice. However Link's grunts have been voiced by various Japanese
voice actors. In addition to video game voice overs,
Martinet has worked as a voice actor in commercials, cartoons, and promotions.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show in 2005, Charles could be
found roaming the virtual village featured in the playable demo of Animal
Crossing: Wild World. Martinet did Mario's voice as the announcer for
Pac-Man Vs. on the Nintendo GameCube. Other than the Mario series, Charles has
also done work for the video game Cel Damage as the voice of Fowl Mouth, as
well as the primary voice work in several educational game series such as
LeapFrog. He also voiced the dragon Paarthurnax in the 2011 video game The
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and narrated the cutscenes and menus for the 2013
video game Bit.Trip Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien.
Public appearances As 'the voice of Mario', he has become a
well-known personality among fans of video games. As such, he has made
several public appearances at several video game related events. Besides
performing his well-known Mario voice, fans can meet him and take pictures with
him, or ask for his autograph. He has made regular appearances at game events
such as Electronic Entertainment Expo, Gamescom, and the Eurogamer Expo, as
well at launch events of games like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario
Galaxy 2. Personal life
Martinet is of French descent and speaks fluent French and Spanish. His family
moved to Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain when he was 12 years old, and later his
family moved to Paris, France. He attended the American School of Paris
and graduated in 1974. Martinet attended the University of
California, Berkeley, where he originally intended to study
international law. His senior year, he decided to discontinue his studies after
a tutor told him to "regurgitate information he'd written in his book,
chapter-by-chapter". A friend suggested him to take acting classes to combat his
fear of public speaking. His first role was a monologue from the Spoon River
Anthology. Eventually, Martinet earned an apprenticeship at the Berkeley
Repertory Theatre. After training with the Berkeley Rep for several years,
Martinet went to London to attended the Drama Studio London, where among other
skills, he discovered his talent for accents and dialects. Upon returning to
California he joined the Berkeley Reparatory Theatre. He went on to become
a founding member of the San Jose Repertory Theatre for four years.
Filmography = Film=
Brotherhood of Justice .... Deputy Hard Traveling .... Dist, Atty, Cobb
The Dead Pool .... Police Station Reporter #1
Mom .... Mr. Hernandez The Last of His Tribe .... Assistant
Museum Director Criminal Hearts .... Juan
Nine Months .... Arnie Death in Granada .... Gravedigger
The Game .... Nicholas' Father A Thousand Men and a Baby .... Seattle
cab driver Sheer Passion .... Lou
The Californians .... City Councilman = Television=
Midnight Caller .... Mark Heller Matlock .... Bo Edmunds
Reasonable Doubts .... Bartender JoJo's Bizarre Adventure .... Pilot B
Fourways Farm .... US Narrator Compromising Situations .... Sal
Nash Bridges .... Hermsdorf Air America .... David Dixon
ER .... Eddy NYPD Blue .... Court Officer
= Video games= Super Punch-Out!! .... Announcer,
Referee, Boxers, Little Mac Mario's Game Gallery .... Mario
Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier .... Pa Conshohocken, Ray Trace, P'Tooie
Solar Eclipse .... Spinner Super Mario 64 .... Mario
Mario Kart 64 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario The ClueFinders 4th Grade Adventures:
Puzzle of the Pyramid .... Sir Alistar Loveless III
Mario Party .... Mario Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman ....
Master Suzuki Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance .... Adm.
Holtz Super Smash Bros. .... Mario, Luigi
Mario Golf .... Mario, Luigi, Wario Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through
Time .... William Shakespeare, Ludwig van Beethoven
Dr. Seuss Toddler .... The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss Preschool .... The Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle
Dr. Seuss Kindergarten .... The Cat in the Hat
Slave Zero .... Old One, Sangonar Mario Party 2 .... Mario
Mario Tennis .... Mario/Baby Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Skies of Arcadia Legends .... Vigoro Mario Party 3 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario,
Waluigi Shadow of Destiny .... Homunculus
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds .... 2-1B, AT-AT driver, OOM-9
Mario Kart: Super Circuit .... Mario Wario Land 4 .... Wario
Super Mario Advance .... Mario, Luigi, Wart, Clawgrip, Tryclyde, Fryguy, Mouser
Forever Kingdom .... Darsul Luigi's Mansion .... Luigi, Mario
Mad Dash Racing Super Smash Bros. Melee .... Mario/Dr.
Mario, Luigi Cel Damage .... Fowl Mouth, Various
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 .... Mario, Luigi
Jet Set Radio Future .... Gouji Rokkaku Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
.... Bespin guard 2, Civilian Male, Imperial Officer 2, Rebel Shock Trooper
Super Mario Sunshine .... Mario/Shadow Mario, Toadsworth, Piantas
Mario Party 4 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Shinobi .... Voice WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! ....
Wario Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour ....
Mario/Shadow Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Gladius .... Additional Voices WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! ....
Wario Mario Kart: Double Dash!! ....
Mario/Baby Mario, Luigi/Baby Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Piantas
Wario World .... Wario Mario Party 5 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario,
Waluigi Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga ....
Mario, Luigi, Toadsworth Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros.
3 .... Mario, Luigi The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the
King .... Easterling Soldiers Pac-Man Vs. .... Announcer
Mario Golf: Advance Tour .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario vs. Donkey Kong .... Mario/Mini-Mario Toys
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door .... Paper Mario, Doopliss
Mario Pinball Land .... Mario Mario Power Tennis .... Mario, Luigi,
Wario, Waluigi, Piantas, Toadsworth, Announcer
Super Mario 64 DS .... Mario, Luigi, Wario
Mario Party 6 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Virtua Quest .... Announcer, Snake Eyes, Lau Chan, Shun Di
Mario Tennis: Power Tour .... Mario, Luigi, Waluigi, Whisker, Sass
WarioWare: Touched! .... Wario Yoshi Touch & Go .... Baby Mario, Baby
Luigi WarioWare: Twisted! .... Wario
Mario Superstar Baseball .... Mario/Baby Mario, Luigi/Baby Luigi, Wario, Waluigi,
Toadsworth, Piantas SSX on Tour .... Mario, Luigi
NBA Street V3 .... Mario, Luigi Mario Kart DS .... Mario, Luigi, Wario,
Waluigi, Piantas Mario Kart Arcade GP .... Mario, Luigi,
Wario Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time ....
Mario/Baby Mario, Luigi/Baby Luigi Super Mario Strikers .... Mario, Luigi,
Wario, Waluigi Mario Party 7 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario,
Waluigi, Toadsworth Super Princess Peach .... Mario, Luigi
New Super Mario Bros. .... Mario, Luigi Yoshi's Island DS .... Baby Mario, Baby
Luigi, Baby Wario Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the
Minis .... Mario/Mini-Mario Toys WarioWare: Smooth Moves .... Wario
Super Paper Mario .... Paper Mario, Paper Luigi/Mr. L
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Mario Strikers Charged .... Mario,
Luigi, Wario, Waluigi Wario: Master of Disguise .... Wario
Mario Party 8 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Piantas
World in Conflict Super Mario Galaxy .... Mario, Luigi
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Party DS .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Super Smash Bros. Brawl .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Kart Wii .... Mario/Baby Mario, Luigi/Baby Luigi, Wario, Waluigi,
Piantas Mario Super Sluggers .... Mario/Baby
Mario, Luigi/Baby Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, Piantas
Wario Land: Shake It! .... Wario Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
.... Mario, Luigi Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again
.... Mario/Mini-Mario Toys Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter
Games .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time ....
Orvus New Super Mario Bros. Wii .... Mario,
Luigi Resonance of Fate .... Lagerfeld
WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase .... Wario Super Mario Galaxy 2 .... Mario, Luigi,
Piantas Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem
.... Mario/Mini-Mario Toys Mario Sports Mix .... Mario, Luigi,
Wario, Waluigi, Piantas Super Mario 3D Land .... Mario, Luigi
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Kart 7 .... Mario/Metal Mario, Luigi, Wario, Piantas
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim .... Paarthurnax
Mario Party 9 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Piantas
Mario Tennis Open .... Mario/Baby Mario/Metal Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
New Super Mario Bros. 2 .... Mario, Luigi
New Super Mario Bros. U .... Mario, Luigi
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon .... Luigi, Mario
Game & Wario .... Wario Bit.Trip Presents... Runner2: Future
Legend of Rhythm Alien .... Narrator Mario & Luigi: Dream Team .... Mario,
Luigi/Dreamy Luigi New Super Luigi U .... Luigi
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move .... Mario
Super Mario 3D World .... Mario, Luigi Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic
Winter Games .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Party: Island Tour .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX .... Mario/Baby Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Yoshi's New Island .... Baby Mario, Baby Luigi
Mario Kart 8 .... Mario/Baby Mario/Metal Mario/Tanooki Mario, Luigi/Baby Luigi,
Wario, Waluigi, Piantas, Nokis Mario Golf: World Tour .... Mario/Gold
Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and
Wii U .... Mario/Dr. Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker .... Mario, Luigi
Mario Party 10 .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Super Mario Maker .... Mario/Silver Mario/Gold Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam .... Mario/Paper Mario, Luigi/Paper Luigi
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
References External links
CharlesMartinet.com Charles Martinet at the Internet Movie
Database Charles Martinet on Twitter
Charles Martinet on Instagram Charles Martinet on Facebook
The Sun Online interview and podcast. Interview in French for Express magazine
on YouTube Short clip of Martinet's Mario voice
acting Charles Martinet plays and comments
Mario Kart 8 at GamesCom 2013 on YouTube Podcast Interview for Scene World
Magazine