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Former journo tells Miyamoto that Mario is dead photo

Earlier this week, wrestling legend and actor "Captain" Lou Albano passed away at the age of 76. In the late '80s, Albano portrayed Nintendo's Mario on the short-lived television series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!.

During a roundtable discussion with Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, former Newsweek tech/videogame writer N'Gai Croal took the opportunity to ask the legendary game designer the question that was on everyone's mind. 

"Where were you when you heard that Captain Lou Albano passed away, and what was your reaction?"

While for most of the night, Miyamoto appeared to have a pretty firm grasp of the English language (he was able to respond, in Japanese, to most questions directed at him in English without a translator), Nintendo's Bill Trinen stepped in for this one. As Trinen translated the question for a silent and nodding Miyamoto, the room fell silent. After what seemed like five minutes, Miyamoto finally spoke, and Trinen translated to the room.

"You're the one who just told me," was the response.


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48 comments | showing # 1 to 48

Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:03
Magnalon
Translation: "I don't know who that is".
TripleZer0's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:04
TripleZer0
I found out from facebook because one of my friends had posted a youtube video of Lou "doing the Mario" with the caption "Farewell sweet prince."

RIP Mario.
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:04
bluexy
"I thought he died ages ago."
Diverse's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:04
Diverse
Haha, what Magnalon said. I wouldn't expect Miyamoto to know who he was, or that America even had a Mario tv show.
killatia's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:06
killatia
Well he probably didn't know because he probably had little to nothing to do with Super Mario Brothers Super Show.
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:06
MrSadistic
Suddenly the room was quiet as Miyamoto looked down with a deep sadness. "Goodnight, sweet prince" said the now dejected Mario creator. A tear gently fell down his left eye.. a sign to the world that the most important man in his life is now lost forever.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:07
pedrovay2003
Not a whole lot of people know who the Captain is, I'd wager. Not in Japan, anyway.

I remember talking to Lou quite a few times when I lived back in New York -- He did a lot of charity work for my elementary school.

RIP, Mario.
JoZo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:08
JoZo
RIP Mr. Albano
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:09
Topher Cantler
:(
Poopface Morty's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:09
Poopface Morty
The cynic wants to say "He had no idea who he was", but hopefully that's not the case. I'd imagine Miyamoto would know who the actor was who was playing his breakout household name character creation in America.
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:09
Takeshi
This is sad in so many and awkward ways.
JonDarkwood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:14
JonDarkwood
Yeah, I'm thinking along the same lines as Morty.

No matter how high up you are in anything, having something you created turn into a television show in the 80's is a huge deal.

I doubt Shigeru Miyamoto wouldn't remember who that man is.
Suigyoken's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:17
Suigyoken
Oh that's really sad...
MowDownJoe's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:20
MowDownJoe
@Topher: Agreed...
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:21
Tubatic
I'm with Morty.

Separately, I'm pretty interested in seeing the resulting article
Harris Hatsworth's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:22
Harris Hatsworth
This is sad.
Sonic9jct's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:28
Sonic9jct
My friend somehow found the first few seasons on this legendary show for $5 at Play N Trade, and now I think it's time to break it out for some respect paying time.
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:28
mr spooky
Wait Luigi is still alive actor Danny Wells.
[image]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:R6G3BZ4qX7MwPM:http://www.hjo3.net/orly/gal2/orly_luigi.jpg[/img]
http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/article/683/683333/the-super-mario-bros-super-show-volume-1-20060125034113536-000.jpg
jean2317's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:30
jean2317
I remember this guy from when I was itybity! Rest in peace Lou.
CRAZYAPE69's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:30
CRAZYAPE69
His last words were, ''SWING YOUR ARMS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, COME ON IT'S TIME TO GO DO THE MARIO!'' beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep (life support machine)
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:34
AgentMOO
Goodnight sweet prince.

everyone do a memorial mario

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zicIzZbdspM
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:38
Los255
Wow, that is pretty damn awkward.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:41
Xzyliac
Bummer. I wouldn't expect Miyamoto to know though. He seems to be the type of guy who endulges in the video games and leaves all the promotional stuff and sideshow bullshit to the Big N.
CrocBox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:43
CrocBox
He is telling people to do the Mario in Heaven now...
HOLY TACO's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 21:50
HOLY TACO
Awww N'Gai has a knack for asking awkward questions. Never seen the show personally.
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 22:23
ScottyG
Fucking N'Gai Croal. Always stirring up the controversy and making people feel awkward. :P

:( :( :( on the news though. :(
Kylehyde's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 22:27
Kylehyde
@ Magnalon

Even that is a bit cruel, I think that your translation is very accurate, sad but true.

RIP Captain Lou. we'll miss you
ErbilT's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 22:32
ErbilT
I love N'Gai.

That seems to be a breakdown in communication on Nintendo's part though. I would have thought that a company-wide email would have been sent out to announce his death. Sure, it hasn't been on the air in 18 years or so... but still. I just think that having your own after-school cartoon show is a pretty big milestone, and that it would be hard for someone who works that would have not notice the news and the significance that he had to the companies image.
JohnThEReaper617's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 22:45
JohnThEReaper617
Sad day indeed :(, i remember watching that show when i was little and thought it was the shit. I mean a show based on mario was amazing....well it was lame but to me it was the most amazing thing at the time. The "captain super mario" Albano will be missed R.I.P.
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 22:52
atastysammich
To think he'd be so out of the loop on important issues like this! No wonder Wii Music happened.
Crunshii's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 23:05
Crunshii
The show was a American show, i dont think Miyamoto had anything to do with the English TV show.

its like John Leguizamo died and asked that same question to Miyamoto. He would say: "WTf is John? horrible American actor? ah yes, he sucks"
MrSlippery's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 23:41
MrSlippery
Big part of my childhood. He'll be missed.
dj-anon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2009 23:59
dj-anon
Awww, I loved the show.
AliasWyvernspur's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 00:17
AliasWyvernspur
Oddly enough, I watched the episodes available on Netflix 360 the week prior to him dying, remembering the awesomeness of Cap'n Lou.

Best. Mario. Ever. I'll miss you, Captain.
TheToiletDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 01:45
TheToiletDuck
Then the next question from an Italian games journalist: "So what? Is mario some kind of mutant power?"
SenorDoucheoisie's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 01:47
SenorDoucheoisie
It really is a sad story, and a shame that someone as awesome as Captain Lou Albano passed away so relatively early.

Personally though, the definitive version of Mario is Bob Hoskins.
Modern Robot's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 01:56
Modern Robot
Yeah it was a goofy show, but live action Mario was my childhood. You have to see on the dvd release Lou talking about his role as Mario, he didn't take it too seriously, but he understood that kids loved Mario.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 02:05
Dr Milkdad
This makes me sad
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 03:45
JustLikeBuck
Damn N'Gai Croal, he made Miyamoto sad ;_;

There's a special place in hell, right next door to Reality TV stars, for people like him!
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 03:45
Artemus
Gone, but not forgotten... Captain Lou Albano. 1933-2009
Torzelan's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 05:07
Torzelan
I used to rent so many VHS Mario videos (that had both the live action and cartoon on them) back in the day and can honestly say they were my favorite movies to rent :( So sad
The Octagon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 07:11
The Octagon
I used to love the Super Mario Bros. Super Show when I was a kid. Captain Lou will be sorely missed.

@SenorDoucheoisie Hoskins (and Leguizamo's Luigi) have, indeed, left an indelible mark upon the collective psyche of Mario fans worldwide. Whether or not that's a good thing is up for interpretation.
Space Moose's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 09:37
Space Moose
I used to wake up at 6am before school everyday to watch the super mario/zelda cartoons. Those shows pissed me off, it always left you hanging and then when you thought it was going to explain some of the shit that was going on, they just played re-runs.
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 11:16
lewness
It was a short stint, but you will be remembered. Too bad, the language barrier must have taken some of the drama away.
ErigBurger's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 16:08
ErigBurger
He died so suddenly... Juuuust. Liiiike. Thaaaaat. DOO DAH DOO DOO. :'C
MasterMS's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/16/2009 18:12
MasterMS
Sad but not surprising, Why would Miyamoto know that? Aside from it being based off his character, he had nothing to do with the TV show.
Mancomb Seepgood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/18/2009 15:41
Mancomb Seepgood
Swing your arms from side to side, everybody do the Mario!
FuriousGeorge's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/18/2009 17:54
FuriousGeorge
at least he didnt die david carradine style.... that would have been tragic
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