Martinet Still Voices Mario, No Improv Rule Stands

Charles Martinet, Mario's iconic voice actor for nearly three decades, has clarified his policy regarding in-character performances for fans after recent social media confusion stemming from a convention appearance.

Now serving as Nintendo's official Mario Ambassador, Martinet remains beloved for enthusiastically performing the character's voice when greeting fans. However, concerns arose after YouTuber Ricky Berwick suggested Nintendo had restricted Martinet's performances - prompting the veteran voice actor to personally address the situation.

Setting the Record Straight

Following Martinet's appearance at Phoenix Fan Fusion 2025, Berwick - with 6.25 million YouTube subscribers and 14.1 million on TikTok - claimed in a since-deleted post that the actor "wasn't even allowed to do the voice of Mario or any of his iconic character's voices" at the convention. "It's a f**king shame," Berwick added.

The controversy emerged alongside news that Martinet's former colleague Samantha Kelly had been replaced as Princess Peach's voice. Nintendo honored Martinet's retirement in 2022 with a special farewell video featuring Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, establishing his ongoing role as Mario Ambassador.

Martinet directly responded to clarify that while he performs Mario's voice for every fan he meets, he chooses not to improvise unscripted dialogue for Nintendo's characters. "Oh Ricky, I do the voice for every fan I meet," Martinet wrote. "I just don't improvise non-Mario phrases or dialogue."

The voice actor emphasized this decision maintains character integrity, stating: "That's my choice to be sure. I always maintain the integrity of the character. But come and visit me at any Comic Con or fan expo and you'll hear super Mario for sure! #woohoo"

Currently, Kevin Afghani voices Mario in Nintendo games, while Chris Pratt portrays the character in the animated film series (with a sequel scheduled for next year).