Pop CultureASK THE DESK

Who Is Mario's Dad? Depends Which Mario You Mean

Nintendo confirms Mario has a father but has never named him, while the Illumination films call him Papa Pio Mario, voiced by Charles Martinet.

On air: Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger on The Five O'Clock
Published 4:56 PM ET, Wednesday, October 28, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Mel Magazine: “Who Is Mario’s Daddy?”
Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 4:56 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger.

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSomething lighter now. A viewer on bbn. live asks, who is Mario's dad, and who is Lord Verity?
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIn Nintendo's own games, Mario's father is confirmed to exist, but he's never named. Mel Magazine says fans have argued about it for years.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorForty years of games, and the man's father is a blank line on the form.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIn the Illumination films, he's Papa Pio Mario, voiced by Charles Martinet, who used to voice Mario.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo the dad sounds exactly like the son. Every phone call home is a man ringing himself.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAnd in the fan web series SMG4, Mario's Father is a villain who abandoned his newborn son.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThree dads, Hank, and not one of them turns up to watch him jump on a turtle.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBit harsh.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThose last two answers come from fan wikis, not Nintendo. Ask us anything at bbn. live. And Lord Verity, we couldn't find at all.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOnly man in this story who hasn't been sued by a plumber.