Kevin Afghani grew up like millions of other kids around the world—spending hours glued to Nintendo games, racing through tracks in Mario Kart and jumping across colorful worlds with Mario and Luigi. Today, that childhood passion has turned into something extraordinary. Afghani is now officially the voice behind some of Nintendo’s most beloved characters, including Mario, Luigi, and Wario.
And even he still can’t quite believe it.
“It’s unbelievable,” says the 29-year-old Los Angeles native. “My dreams have come true.”
From Fan to Franchise Voice
Afghani landed the life-changing role in 2023, taking over after legendary voice actor Charles Martinet retired from the position he had held for more than two decades. Martinet remains connected to Nintendo as the official “Mario Ambassador,” but Afghani has stepped in to bring fresh energy to the iconic characters.
His first major appearance as Mario and Luigi came with the Nintendo Switch hit Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Since then, he has voiced characters in multiple titles, including Mario Kart World, WarioWare: Move It!, and Super Mario Party Jamboree—as well as games on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
This weekend marks another milestone for Afghani. He will make his first major U.S. comic con appearance at Charlie’s ComicCon in Estero, Florida, where fans will have the chance to meet him, grab autographs, and hear him speak on a panel.
Getting Used to the Spotlight
Despite becoming the voice of one of the most famous characters in entertainment history, Afghani admits that fame still feels a bit strange.
“I’m just not used to it, man,” he laughs. “It’s crazy.”
He explains that voice actors often stay behind the scenes, so being recognized in public is a new experience. Most people know Mario instantly—but few ever think about the person behind the voice.
“Nobody really thinks about who does the voice of Mario,” he says. “Everybody knows who Mario is. But once you realize he has a voice actor, it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, I guess he must.’”
A Lifelong Love for Nintendo
Afghani isn’t just playing the role of a gamer—he truly is one.
“Oh yeah,” he says when asked if he grew up with Nintendo. “I was a fan of Mario long before I became Mario, and I’ll be a fan long after I stop being Mario.”
He recalls spending his childhood playing nearly every Mario title imaginable—from Luigi’s Mansion to Mario Party, and of course, countless hours of Mario Kart.
“I love all of it,” he says enthusiastically. “The 2D games, the 3D games, even the sports games. It’s all just pure joy. Nintendo games are unapologetically happy.”
That lifelong connection makes voicing the characters especially meaningful.
“These characters have been so important to me my entire life,” Afghani explains. “Now I get to carry them forward so they can keep being important to other people.”
Finding Mario’s Voice
For Afghani, stepping into Mario’s shoes felt natural in many ways. After all, he had spent years imitating the characters just for fun.
“I’ve been listening to Mario and Luigi my whole life,” he says. “I grew up mimicking them.”
When asked whether he enjoys doing the voices professionally, his answer is immediate.
“Goodness, I love it! The recording sessions are so much fun.”
Even playing the games he appears in brings a surreal feeling.
“At a certain point, I can disconnect and just think, ‘That’s Mario,’” he says with a laugh.
Honoring a Legend
Taking over from Charles Martinet was no small task. Afghani is deeply aware of the legacy he inherited.
“Charles, as far as I’m concerned, IS Mario,” he says respectfully. “He created something unbelievably iconic. If I wasn’t nervous stepping into his shoes, I’d be the wrong guy.”
He emphasizes his admiration for Martinet and the foundation he built for the character.
“There is such unbelievable respect for Charles. He is amazing.”
More Than Just Mario
Although Nintendo has brought Afghani worldwide recognition, he has worked on other major projects as well. One of his favorite roles is Amir from the game Warframe.
“I love recording for that character,” he shares. “It was fun because I got to use my regular speaking voice for once.”
Looking Ahead
As Afghani prepares to meet fans at his first major U.S. convention, he admits to feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
“I’m a little nervous,” he says honestly. “I’m kind of a nerd who stays at home all day.”
But he’s also thrilled to connect with the very community that helped shape his career.
“I’m all the emotions,” he laughs.
For a lifelong Mario fan who suddenly became the voice of the Mushroom Kingdom, that seems perfectly fitting.
