Mario Bros. Actor Danny Wells Dies, Twitter Mourns The Loss Of Luigi
Beloved Super Mario Bros. Super Show actor Danny Wells died in Toronto, Canada on November 28. The actor was 72.
Although the Montreal native appeared in a number of movies and television shows over the course of his extremely prolific career, people of a certain age fondly remember his turn as Luigi in the live action-animation hybrid, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show television series. The actor appeared in 65 episodes during the show’s run.
Based on the popular video game, the series originally aired on television back in 1989. However, the Nintendo spin-off was later discovered by a whole new generation of Super Mario fanatics through releases on VHS and DVD. Actor “Captain” Lou Albano, who played Mario on the show, passed away back in 2009.
Check out The Montreal Gazette obituary for the late Mario Bros. actor:
“Son of the late Eunice and the late Eli Westelman. Loving and adored father and father-in-law of Matthew and Danna, and Adam. Loving ‘Zaizie’ to Zoe. Dear brother and brother-in-law of Rhona Spanier and John Macdonald, Phil and Cookie, Joel and Janet, and the late Karen (Grant Reynolds). Unlike so many of us, Danny followed his dreams; The Catskills, New York, nightclubs around the world, Los Angeles, movies and television. He made them laugh and wowed them with his natural gifts. A very funny and talented man, he will be terribly missed by his family.”
In addition to his stint on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Danny Wells appeared in such television series as The Jeffersons, The A-Team, CHiPs, and Eight is Enough. His big screen credits include Magnolia, Life Stinks, and the Stephen Baldwin Thriller Protection.
Not surprisingly, a lot of Mario Bros. fans were shocked to learn of the actor’s death. Check out some Twitter reactions to the news below.
R.I.P. Danny Wells aka Luigi.
Hope you and Captain Lou are doin the Mario right now… pic.twitter.com/V33FXnMPZl
— Marzo Kalif (@Count_Marzo) December 4, 2013
Aw, man. Danny Wells who played Luigi on the Super Mario Bros. Super Show died. That was a staple of my childhood, right there.
— Marc Deschamps (@Marcdachamp) December 6, 2013
Everybody: "Danny Wells is dead. The Year of Luigi is over." Nintendo: "Nope." Everybody: "THE ETERNITY OF LUIGI!"
— Ralpha Unit (@Alpha_Unit_) December 6, 2013
We all run out of 1ups eventually, cheers for the child hood memories. Rest in Peace Luigi (Danny Wells)
— Phil Cunliffe (@PhilCunliffe) December 6, 2013
No other actor, cosplayer or in-game sprite/model will ever be as good at being Luigi as Danny Wells was: pic.twitter.com/6NxgstMUgq
— Holiday Tobiichi (@TobiichiK) December 4, 2013
If you’re feeling a little nostalgic right now, then a moment to celebrate the late actor’s contribution to the world of cult television by watching an episode of the Super Show below.
Are you a fan of Super Mario Bros. actor Danny Wells?
