Charles Martinet

**Charles Andre Martinet** (born September 17, 1955) is an American actor and voice artist. He is best known as being the voice of Mario in the _Mario_ series of video games 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 television screen displaying a 3-D Mario head that moved around the screen and talked. This system was called "Mario in Real-Time" or "MIRT". 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 (which is how Mario sounded in the Super _Mario Bros. Super Show_, _Super Mario Bros. 3_ and _Super Mario World_ cartoons). 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.<sup>[1]</sup>

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, Donkey Kong,<sup>[2]</sup> MC Ballyhoo, Mini-Mario Toy, 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, although his work is always in English (regardless of the Italian references whenever he voices Mario and related characters).

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 Dreamcastand 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.

In addition to videogame voice overs, Martinet has worked as a voice actor in commercials, cartoons, and promotions. At the E3 trade show in 2005, Charles (as an_Animal Crossing_ character) could be found roaming the virtual village featured in the playable demo of _Animal Crossing: Wild World_. Martinet did Mario's voice as the voice 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.<sup>[2]</sup> 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_.<sup>[3]</sup>

### Film

- _Brotherhood of Justice_ (1986) (TV) .... Deputy
- _Hard Traveling_ (1986) .... Dist. Atty. Cobb
- _The Dead Pool_ (1988) .... Police Station Reporter #1
- _Mom_ (1990) .... Mr. Hernandez
- _The Last of His Tribe_ (1992) (TV) .... Assistant Museum Director
- _Criminal Hearts_ (1995) (as Charles Martinez) .... Juan
- _Nine Months_ (1995) .... Arnie
- _Death in Granada_ (1997) .... Gravedigger
- _The Game_ (1997) .... Nicholas' Father
- _A Thousand Men and a Baby_ (1997) (TV) .... Seattle cab driver
- _Sheer Passion_ (1998) .... Lou
- _The Californians_ (2005) .... City Councilman

### Television

- _Midnight Caller_ .... Mark Heller (1 episode, 1989)
- _Matlock_ .... Bo Edmunds (1 episode, 1989)
- _Reasonable Doubts_ .... Bartender (1 episode, 1992)
- _JoJo's Bizarre Adventure_ (1993) .... Pilot B
- _Fourways Farm_ (1994) .... US Narrator
- _Compromising Situations_ .... Sal (1 episode, 1995)
- _Nash Bridges_ .... Hermsdorf (1 episode, 1996)
- _Air America_ .... David Dixon (1 episode, 1998)
- _ER_ .... Eddy (1 episode, 2002)
- _NYPD Blue_ .... Court Officer (1 episode, 2003)

### Video games

- _Super Punch-Out!!_ (1994) .... Announcer, Referee, Boxers
- _Mario's Game Gallery_ (earlier released as _Mario's FUNdamentals_) (1995) .... Mario
- _Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier_ (1995) .... Pa Conshohocken/Ray Trace/P'Tooie
- _Solar Eclipse_ (1995) .... Spinner
- _Super Mario 64_ (1996) .... Mario
- _Mario Kart 64_ (1997) .... Mario, Luigi (Overseas version), Wario (Overseas version), Donkey Kong
- _The ClueFinders 4th Grade Adventures: Puzzle of the Pyramid_ (1998) .... Sir Alistar Loveless III
- _Mario Party_ (1999) .... Mario, Donkey Kong
- _Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman_ (1999) .... Master Suzuki
- _Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance_ (1999) .... Adm. Holtz
- _Super Smash Bros._ (1999) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario Golf_ (1999) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Baby Mario, Donkey Kong
- _Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time_ (1999) .... William Shakespeare/Ludwig van Beethoven
- _Dr. Seuss Toddler_ (1999) .... The Cat in the Hat
- _Dr. Seuss Preschool_ (1999) .... The Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle
- _Dr. Seuss Kindergarten_ (1999) .... The Cat in the Hat
- _Slave Zero_ (1999) .... Old One, Sangonar
- _Mario Party 2_ (1999). Mario, Donkey Kong
- _Mario Tennis_ (2000) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Donkey Kong
- _Skies of Arcadia Legends_ (2000) .... Vigoro
- _Mario Party 3_ (2000) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong
- _Shadow of Destiny_ (2001) .... Homunculus
- _Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds_ (2001) .... 2-1B, AT-AT driver/OOM-9
- _Mario Kart: Super Circuit_ (2001) .... Mario, Donkey Kong
- _Wario Land 4_ (2001) .... Wario
- _Super Mario Advance_ (2001) .... Mario, Luigi, Wart, Clawgrip, Tryclyde, Fryguy, Mouser
- _Forever Kingdom_ (2001) .... Darsul
- _Luigi's Mansion_ (2001) .... Luigi, Mario
- _Mad Dash Racing_ (2001)
- _Super Smash Bros. Melee_ (2001) .... Mario, Luigi, Dr. Mario
- _Cel Damage_ (2001) .... Fowl Mouth, Various
- _Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2_ (2002) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Jet Set Radio Future_ (2002) .... Gouji Rokkaku
- _Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast_ (2002) .... Bespin guard 2/Civilian Male/Imperial Officer 2/Rebel Shock Trooper 3 .... Voice
- _Super Mario Sunshine_ (2002) .... Mario, Toadsworth, some Piantas
- _Mario Party 4_ (2002) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong
- _Shinobi_ (2002) .... Voice
- _WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!_ (2003) .... Wario
- _Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour_ (2003) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Shadow Mario
- _Gladius_ (2003) (voice) .... Additional Voices
- _WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!_ (2003) .... Wario
- _Mario Kart: Double Dash!!_ (2003) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi
- _Wario World_ (2003) .... Wario
- _Mario Party 5_ (2003) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong
- _Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga_ (2003) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3_ (2003) .... Mario, Luigi
- _The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King_ (2003) .... Easterling Soldiers
- _Mario Golf: Advance Tour_ (2004) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario vs. Donkey Kong_ (2004) .... Mario, Mini-Mario Toy
- _Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door_ (2004) .... Mario
- _Mario Pinball Land_ (2004) .... Mario
- _Mario Power Tennis_ (2004) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Super Mario 64 DS_ (2004) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario
- _Mario Party 6_ (2004) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong
- _WarioWare: Touched!_ (2005) .... Wario
- _Yoshi Touch & Go_ (2005) .... Baby Mario, Baby Luigi
- _WarioWare: Twisted!_ (2005) .... Wario
- _Mario Superstar Baseball_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth
- _SSX on Tour_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario Kart DS_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Kart Arcade GP_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi
- _Super Mario Strikers_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Party 7_ (2005) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, Donkey Kong
- _Super Princess Peach_ (2006) (voice) .... Mario, Luigi
- _New Super Mario Bros._ (2006) (voice) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Yoshi's Island DS_ (2006) - Baby Mario, Baby Wario
- _Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis_ (2006) .... Mario, Mini-Mario Toy
- _WarioWare: Smooth Moves_ (2007) .... Wario
- _Super Paper Mario_ (2007) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Kane & Lynch: Dead Men_ (2007) (voice)
- _Mario Strikers Charged_ (2007) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Wario: Master of Disguise_ (2007) .... Wario
- _Mario Party 8_ (2007) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, MC Ballyhoo
- _World in Conflict_ (2007) (voice)
- _Super Mario Galaxy_ (2007) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games_ (2007, 2008) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Party DS_ (2007) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Super Smash Bros. Brawl_ (2008) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Kart Arcade GP 2_ (2008) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Kart Wii_ (2008) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi
- _Mario Super Sluggers_ (2008) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Toadsworth
- _Wario Land: Shake It!_ (2008) .... Wario
- _Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story_ (2009) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again_ (2009) .... Mario, Mini-Mario Toy
- _Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games_ (2009) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time_ (2009) .... Orvus
- _New Super Mario Bros. Wii_ (2009) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Resonance of Fate_ (2010) .... Lagerfeld
- _WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase_ (2010) .... Wario
- _Super Mario Galaxy 2_ (2010) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Donkey Kong Country Returns_ (2010) .... Cranky Kong
- _Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem_ (2010) .... Mario, Mini-Mario Toy
- _Mario Sports Mix_ (2011) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Super Mario 3D Land_ (2011) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games_ (2011, 2012) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Kart 7_ (2011) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Metal Mario
- _The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim_ (2011) .... Paarthurnax
- _Mario Party 9_ (2012) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Tennis Open_ (2012) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Metal Mario
- _New Super Mario Bros. 2_ (2012) .... Mario, Luigi
- _New Super Mario Bros. U_ (2012) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon_ (2013) .... Luigi, Mario
- _Game & Wario_ (2013) .... Wario
- _Bit.Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien_ (2013) .... Narrator (himself)
- _Mario & Luigi: Dream Team_ (2013) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move_ (2013) .... Mario
- _Super Mario 3D World_ (2013) .... Mario, Luigi
- _Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games_ (2013) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Mario Party: Island Tour_ (2013) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi
- _Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze_ (2014) .... Cranky Kong
- _Mario Kart 8_ (2014) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Metal Mario
- _Mario Golf: World Tour_ (2014) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Gold Mario
- _Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS_ and _Super Smash Bros. for Wii U_ (2014) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Dr.Mario, Waluigi
- _Super Smash Bros. Ultimate_ (2018) .... Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Dr. Mario

## Other websites

- CharlesMartinet.com

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Charles Martinet
- **image**: Charles Martinet Game World 2010.jpg
- **caption**: Martinet in 2010
- **birthname**: Charles Andre Martinet
- **birth place**: San Jose, California, U.S.
- **yearsactive**: 1986–present
- **occupation**: Actor, voice artist
- **known for**: The voice of Mario
- **notable works**: Mario series
Super Mario (series)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario & Luigi (series)
Mario Kart series
Mario Party (series)
List of Mario sports games, Mario Sports games
Wario series
Super Smash Bros. (series)