For the better part of three decades, Charles Martinet was Nintendo’s official voice for Mario. While Martinet has since stepped back from playing the iconic character, he has shared how his approach to the role helped him land the part of a lifetime.
While speaking with GamingBible, Martinet recalled that he crashed Nintendo’s audition for Mario without knowing anything about the character or the Japanese video game publisher.
“I was simply told to start talking, and when you run out of things to say, that’s your audition,” said Martinet. “I didn’t want to do an Italian plumber sounding gruff, mean and nasty or scary to children, like a Mafia member. I didn’t know whether the audience would have children in it, but I have a principle of comedy of always being kind. I thought to myself that I’ll do something much more silly and fun. I didn’t know anything about video games, so I just made things up about food and started talking.”
“Being able to bring that joy into children’s and adults’ lives has been a tremendous honor,” added Martinet. “When they tell me stories of growing up with Mario, and playing the games with their parents, grandparents, and now their children, it gives me such a feeling of joy that cannot be described. I’m just grateful for those moments every day.”
Martinet voiced two characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Mario and Luigi’s father and Giuseppe, but it’s unclear if he will return for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The most recent trailer for the sequel introduced Yoshi and Birdo to the cast. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be released on April 1, and it may have a big Super Bowl trailer this Sunday, February 8.