A video game character getting a new voice actor isn’t shocking. It has happened on many occasions to mixed responses. The ever-changing voices of the Resident Evil characters, for instance, don’t seem to bother many people. Yet, fans weren’t happy when David Haytor was replaced as Big Boss in the Metal Gear Solid series.
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Some characters just have a very distinct voice that can’t be changed without fan backlash. This is perhaps why Charles Martinet has had such a long stint voicing one of the most famous characters in gaming,Mario. While the plumber doesn’t say too much in each game, his voice is very recognizable. But how long has Martinet been the actor behind the hero?
How Long Has Charles Martinet Voiced Mario?
While Martinet has clearly voiced the character for a long time, there is a bit of dispute over what his first game actually was. Some claim that he voiced the character for a Super Mario Bros. pinball machine in 1992. However, it was an uncredited role, and nobody actually knows if it was Martinet or not.
Therefore, the first time he officially voiced the character in a game was in 1994 for the educational title known as Mario Teaches Typing.According to the man himself, though, he actually acquired the role in 1991.
This is still many years after the character was introduced, as he didn’t talk in a game for some time.
Overall, his run as Mario technically lasted 32 years from when he got the role, or 29 years if you start the count from his first official game as the character.
Is Charles Martinet The Only Actor That Has Voiced Mario?
Martinet is the actor most associated with Mario but isn’t the only one to voice the little plumber. In fact, various people have lent their tones to the character in commercials, animated series, and movies.
The most famous of them are Chris Pratt from the Super Mario Bros Movie and Bob Hoskins from the Super Mario Bros film. Yet, the latter was a live-action performance.
The first person to voice the hero in a game was Nicholas Glaeser, who played the plumber in the Mario Is Missing title.
Regardless of those other people, though, Charles Martinet is seen as the true voice of the character and perhaps always will be.
