Princess Peach And Toad Actor Says Nintendo Has Replaced Her After 18 Years

In a surprising turn of events, I, a long-time fan, find myself sharing the news that Samantha Kelly, the voice behind Princess Peach and Toad in beloved Nintendo games for almost two decades, won’t be reprising these roles moving forward. Today, June 6, Samantha announced that Nintendo is planning to recast both characters, handing over the iconic voices to new actors.

On Instagram, Kelly expresses gratitude to fans for numerous years filled with friendship and happiness. She confessed that she’s upset it’s come to an end, wishing she could continue voicing Peach and Toad throughout her entire career. She revealed that she learned about the decision on June 5, coincidentally the same day as the launch of Switch 2 and Mario Kart World.

Yesterday, Nintendo informed me about their decision to reassign these roles. I’m thankful for the opportunity to lend my voice to these characters for all these years. Characters like Peach and Toad are not just strong and beautiful, but timeless, and I wish they continue to endure regardless of who gives them life. So much love, Kelly wrote.

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Over 70 different Nintendo games across platforms such as DS, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, and Switch have benefited from Kelly’s vocal talents. Additionally, she has lent her voice to the animated film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” as reported by IGN.

It was noticed that Kelly wasn’t listed among the voice actors for Peach and Toad in the Mario Kart World credits, leading her to confirm her departure from those roles. Similarly, Takashi Nagasako, known for voicing Donkey Kong over two decades, is also conspicuously absent from the game’s credits.

2023 saw Charles Martinet, who had been the long-standing voice of Mario, step away from his vocal duties and move into an ambassadorial position for Nintendo. This new role, however, remains somewhat unclear to Martinet himself.

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2025-06-06 19:09