ShareThis
Danny Wells, the Canadian actor who portrayed Luigi in the Super Mario Bros. cartoon, passed away late last week on November 28. He was 72.
Wells– real name Jack Westelman– starred in a number of different roles throughout his career, but Nintendo fans (particularly those who grew up in the ’80s) will remember him best as the voice of Luigi on the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. Wells also portrayed the character in the live-action segments that bookended the cartoon, where he starred opposite the professional wrestling legend, Lou Albano.
Wells’ passing marks a sad end to the “Year of Luigi,” though longtime Nintendo fans will certainly remember him fondly for giving a voice to Mario’s cowardly brother long before Charles Martinet stepped into the role. Do you have any fond memories of the Super Mario Bros. cartoon? Share them with us in the comments.
Source: My Nintendo News
To say that I wouldn’t be the Nintendo fan I am today if not for this show would be an understatement. As a very young kid when the show aired, it helped to foster the love affair that started when my parents bought me the original NES.
I watched the pilot on Netflix tonight to honor Wells and Albano. It was goofy, but the charm that hooked me is clearly still there. Hopefully Wells and Albano found a good pizza place up in the sky. May they both rest in peace.