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.[1]

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,[2] 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.[2] 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*.[3]

## Filmography 
### 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

## References
## Other websites
* CharlesMartinet.com
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