Nintendo Replaces Princess Peach and Toad Voice Actor for Switch 2’s Mario Kart World

Voice actor Samantha Kelly learned her 18-year role as Princess Peach and Toad in Super Mario games ended on the Nintendo Switch 2 launch day, with Mario Kart World releasing without her voice.

Though not widely known, Kelly has voiced Peach and Toad in over 70 Nintendo titles across DS, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, and Switch, starting with Mario Strikers Charged in 2007.

From Super Mario Bros. to Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Kart to Super Smash Bros., Kelly brought life to two iconic Mushroom Kingdom characters, shining in titles like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and last year’s Princess Peach: Showtime!

Kelly’s voice work extended beyond Nintendo’s own games, featuring in titles like Ubisoft’s Mario + Rabbids series and Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympics series, developed for Nintendo platforms.

Her talents also reached outside gaming, voicing Peach and Toad in interactive Lego Super Mario toys, Super Nintendo World theme parks, and various Toad roles in the billion-dollar-grossing Super Mario Bros. Movie.

However, Kelly’s name is absent from Mario Kart World’s credits. After fans noticed, she confirmed her departure from the roles.

“Thank you for years of support and happiness,” Kelly shared on Instagram. “I’m heartbroken it’s over; I would’ve loved to voice Peach and Toad forever. Nintendo informed me yesterday they’ve recast these roles.

“I’m thankful for the chance to voice these characters for so long. Peach and Toad are vibrant, enduring characters, and I hope they thrive no matter who voices them. All my love <3 #princesspeach #toad”

Nintendo tightly controls pre-release information, often withholding game credits and developer details until launch, as seen with the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza, already demoed at Switch 2 events.

Kelly’s case seems an extreme extension of this policy, as she was unaware of her replacement until Mario Kart World’s release.

It remains unclear who now voices Peach and Toad in Mario Kart World and future Mario titles.

Keen Nintendo fans also noticed the absence of Takashi Nagasako, Donkey Kong’s voice actor for 21 years since Mario Power Tennis in 2004, from Mario Kart World’s credits. Koji Takeda, who voiced Donkey Kong in the Japanese version of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, is listed instead, suggesting Nintendo aligned the game’s voice with the film’s Japanese version.

IGN has reached out to Nintendo for comment.

This isn’t Nintendo’s first recent voice actor replacement. In 2022, Charles Martinet, the beloved voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi, was retired after nearly 30 years. Nintendo named Martinet a “Mario Ambassador,” though he later admitted uncertainty about the role’s meaning.