The Voice Behind Mario Sets the Record Straight

Charles Martinet, who embodied Mario's voice for nearly three decades, has clarified how he interacts with fans while staying true to character following recent social media speculation. Currently serving as Nintendo's official Mario Ambassador, Martinet maintains his tradition of enthusiastically performing Mario's voice during fan encounters.

Concerns arose after YouTuber Ricky Berwick's post suggesting Martinet faced restrictions when voicing Mario characters at Phoenix Fan Fusion 2025. Berwick's claim that Martinet "wasn't allowed to do the voice" gained traction online.

Actor Explains His Personal Character Guidelines

Martinet directly addressed these claims, explaining his longstanding practice regarding improvised dialogue. "I do the voice for every fan I meet," Martinet clarified, "I just don't improvise non-Mario phrases."

The veteran voice actor emphasized this restriction stems from his personal commitment to character integrity rather than any Nintendo mandate. His concern is maintaining the authentic spirit of Mario without introducing unofficial dialogue.

Changing of the Guard in Mushroom Kingdom

This clarification comes amid broader transitions in Nintendo's voice acting team. Martinet officially stepped down from voicing Mario in 2022 after receiving recognition from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Kevin Afghani now voices Mario in games, while Chris Pratt handles the film adaptations.

The discussion also followed revelations about Samantha Kelly's departure from voicing Princess Peach and Toad, coinciding with Mario Kart World's launch.

Martinet's Continued Convention Presence

Despite retirement from official voice work, Martinet maintains an active convention schedule under his Mario Ambassador role. He assures fans they'll still hear Mario's signature "woohoo!" during meet-and-greets.

"Come visit me at any Comic Con," Martinet invited fans, affirming his dedication to preserving Mario's legacy while respecting Nintendo's creative vision.