List of implied people

This article is about implied real-life people. For fictional implied characters, see List of implied characters.

This is a list of real-life people that have made at least one cameo appearance or have been mentioned at least once in Super Mario media, but have not had a major role in said media up to this point in time.

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was an Austro-German politician who ruled as dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. During his tenure, he triggered World War II as a result of his annexation of surrounding territories and oversaw the Holocaust, a campaign of genocides and democides against ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities, as well as political opponents, prisoners of war, and the disabled. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player what year Hitler took power in Germany; this is accompanied by an illustration of Luigi worriedly reading a book titled Hitler & WWII. The back of the card features a photo and short biography of Hitler describing his rise to power and his role in the Holocaust.

Al Capone

Alphonse Gabriel Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947) was an American mafioso notorious for being one of the biggest crime bosses in America during Prohibition, the federal ban on the alcohol trade from 1920 to 1933. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player who Al Capone was; the accompanying illustration depicts King Koopa as he appears in the DIC Entertainment cartoons admiring Capone's portrait. The back of the card features a photo and brief biography of Capone, documenting his early life and his reign as a mob boss.

Al Pacino

Alfredo James "Al" Pacino (April 25, 1940 -) is a famous American actor of Italian descent. In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Al Pacino, along with several other celebrities of Italian descent.

Alexander Alexeyevich Gorsky

Alexander Alexeyevich Gorsky (Russian: Алекса́ндр Алексе́евич Го́рский) (August 6, 1871 - October 20, 1924) was the director of the Bolshoi Theater until 1924, and was mentioned in a pamphlet in the game Mario is Missing!. The pamphlet states he is among "the most important people in the ballet world", and that his introduction of "the idea of realism into choreography and scenery" made ballet more appealing to modern audiences.

Alexander Pushkin

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (Russian: Александр Сергеевич Пушкин) (May 26, 1799 - January 29, 1837) was a famous Russian poet. His name was used in a pun by the Moscow police officer in the game Mario is Missing!, saying "when Pushkin comes to shove, Moscow is a place to love."

Andrey Chokhov

Andrey Chokhov (Russian: Андрей Чохов) (c. 1545 - 1629, spelled Andrey Shchokhov in-game) was a Russian caster who cast Tsar Pushka, a huge cannon, in 1586. He and his role were mentioned in a pamphlet in the game Mario is Missing!.

Annette Funicello

Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, 1942 - April 8, 2013) was a famous teen actress from the United States of America during the 1950's and 1960's. She is an icon of both the The Mickey Mouse Club and the beach party subgenre.

Her first mention was in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode "Fortune Teller". The second prize of the Big Time Celebrity Prize Sweepstake Giveaway was a tour of Hollywood with Funicello.

In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode "Mario and Joliet", Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Toad, and Romano step onto one of King Koopa's traps and are engulfed in a net. Toad cried out, "It's a net!" Luigi misheard him and asked, "Annette Funicello? Where?" Annette was born in New York City and, like the brothers, is Italian.

In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Annette Funicello, along with several other celebrities of Italian descent.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, Vicomte de Saint-Exupéry (June 29, 1900;– c. July 31 1944) was a French writer and aviator best known for penning the 1943 children's novella The Little Prince. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks players to correctly identify him as the book's writer, with the back of the card featuring a photo and biography of him.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930) was an English writer and physician best known as the author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, one of the most famous crime fiction franchises in the world. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Doyle is mentioned as one of the incorrect options for the question "Who wrote Don Quixote?"

Backstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys are a renowned American boy band formed in 1993. They are composed of AJ McLean (Alexander James McLean): (January 9, 1978 - ), Howie Dorough (Howard Dwaine Dorough): (August 22, 1973 - ), Nick Carter (Nickolas Gene Carter): (January 28, 1980 - ), Kevin Richardson (Kevin Scott Richardson): (October 3, 1971 - ), and Brian Littrell (Brian Thomas Littrell): (February 20, 1975 - ). In Welcome to Greedville, they are referenced in the Greed $chool Test, found in the Greed $chool.

Barbara Walters

Barbara Jill Walters (September 25, 1929 - December 30, 2022) was an esteemed American broadcast journalist and television personality. In Welcome to Greedville, she is incorrectly referred as "Barbara Waters" in the memo written by Thaddeus P. Gradgrind, found in the Pyramid Theater, as Thaddeus mentions that she wants to interview him next week.

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys is an American rock band, active since 1961, that was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!! At the time of the latter's release, the band comprised of Al Jardine (September 3, 1942 -), Brian Wilson (June 20, 1942 -), Bruce Johnston (June 27, 1942 -), Carl Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998), and Mike Love (March 15, 1941 -). In the introduction to their song "Surfin' Safari", Mario mentions that the listener and he were off on a surfin' safari with them.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band active from 1960 to 1970; from 1962 until their dissolution, the band consisted of George Harrison (February 25, 1943 - November 29, 2001), John Lennon (October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980), Paul McCartney (June 18, 1942 -), and Ringo Starr (July 7, 1940 -). During the events of "Kootie Pie Rocks", Kootie Pie Koopa threatened to turn Milli Vanilli into (Buzzy) Beetles. Not understanding what Kootie Pie was referring to, Fab Morvan questioned as to why anyone would want to be a band from the sixties. In the Italian version of the episode, Kootie instead threatens them into turning them into chameleons, which is also the name of an Italian band from the sixties, keeping the punchline unaltered (I Camaleonti).

A quartet of actual Beetles appeared in a scene from "Princess, I Shrunk the Mario Brothers". These Beetles were depicted with haircuts resembling the four members of the Beatles.

They are also mentioned in the Mario Quiz Cards in an answer to a question. In the card, Mario is wearing Beatle-like clothes while listening to an album by a group named the Fab 4, a common nickname for them.

Brad Pitt

William Bradley Pitt (December 18, 1963 - ) is a renowned American actor. In Welcome to Greedville he is simply referred as "Pitt" in the Gazette Review, found in the Pyramid Theater.

Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears (December 2, 1981 - ) is an American pop icon and singer. In Welcome to Greedville, she is incorrectly referred to as "Britney Spear" in Greed $chool Test, found in the Greed $chool.

Bruce Lee

Lee Jun-fan (Traditional Chinese: 李振藩; Pinyin: Lǐ Zhènfān; Jyutping: lei5 zan3 faan4; Wade–Giles: Li Chen-fan) (November 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973), better known as Bruce Lee (Chinese: 李小龍 (Traditional) / Chinese: 李小龙 (Simplified); Pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎolóng; Jyutping: lei5 siu2 lung4; Wade–Giles: Li Hsiao-lung), was a famous Chinese American martial artist. In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, when Mario discovers Bowyer in the Forest Maze, he attempts to attack him, but Mallow holds Mario back, shouting "Who do you think you are, Bruce Lee?". Mallow's mention of Bruce Lee is absent from the Nintendo Switch remake.

When fighting against Chun-Li in the comic "Super Mario Klemp-Won-Do: Muskeln sind nicht alles!", Mario assumes that his opponent has watched "too much Bruce Lee", due to her kick-style fighting.

Buddy Knox

Buddy Knox (July 20, 1933 – February 14, 1999) was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to his song "Party Doll", Mario mentions that he tells Toad, a shy guy with the ladies, that he should listen to Buddy Knox because he would say how to get your very own pizza party doll.

Caesar Augustus

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (September 23, 63 BC - August 19, AD 14) was the first Roman Emperor, reigning from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Caesar Augustus, along with several other famous people of Italian descent.

Chrétien

Jean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien (August 20, 1938 – ) is a French retired spationaut and pilot best known for being the first western European to travel in space, participating in two Franco-Soviet missions in 1982 and 1988 and one American mission in 1997. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Chrétien (referred to solely by his last name) is mentioned as one of the incorrect options for the question "Who were the first men to walk on the moon?"

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus (1451 - May 20, 1506) was an Italian explorer who is notable for initiating widespread contact between Europe and the Americas. In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Christopher Columbus, along with several other famous people of Italian descent.

Charlie Foxx

Charlie Foxx (October 23, 1939 – September 18, 1998) was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to his song "Mockingbird", Mario mentions that that his sister, Inez Foxx, and he were about to sing "Mockingbird," a song for Birdo lovers.

Che Guevara

Ernesto "Che" Guevara (June 14, 1928 – October 9, 1967) was an Argentinian doctor, politician, writer, and militant communist known for his role in the Cuban Revolution. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player who Che Guevara was; the back features a photo and brief biography, documenting his involvement in various communist uprisings in North Vietnam, Latin America, and the Congo.

Christopher Griffin

Christopher Griffin is one of the two sons of Nancy Blair Griffin, whom Donkey Kong mentioned in a Medialab interview with her. When Nancy is about to talk about them, Donkey Kong interrupts her and guesses their names correctly, implying that he had heard of them before.

Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton (August 19, 1946 - ), referred to in Super Mario media simply as Clinton, is an American politician who served as President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card includes Clinton on one of the incorrect options for the question "Which U.S. Presidents' faces are carved into Mount Rushmore?"

Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama (Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ; Wylie: Tā la'i bla ma) is the leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card tasks players with identifying "the leader of Tibet's Buddhists," with the Dalai Lama being the correct answer (though Tibetan Buddhism actually has four schools, with the Gelug school merely being the most prominent). The back of the card features a brief overview of the position and its significance; the card mentions "the present Dalai Lama, the fourteenth incarnation of the spirit," referring to Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ; Wylie: bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho) (July 6, 1935 - ), who has held the position since 1940.

Diego Rivera

Diego Rivera (December 8, 1886 - November 24, 1957) was a Mexican painter, known for his political drawings. One of his murals, called "The Epic of the Mexican People," was stolen from the National Palace, Mexico City during the events of Mario is Missing!. He made the painting with the help of 16 full-time assistants, which took them 16 years, according to a pamphlet about the National Palace found in the game. Another pamphlet, about the Fine Arts Palace, also cites Rivera as one of "Mexico's greatest artists." He was married to Frida Kahlo.

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991), better known by his pen name, Dr. Seuss, was an American author and illustrator famous for his rhyming children's books. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player what Geisel's pen name was, with the accompanying illustration referencing two of his books: The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Regan Murphy (April 3 1961 - ) is an American actor, comedian, and singer. In the Club Mario episode accompanying "The Unzappables", Joe Piscopo mentions that he knows and talks to Eddie Murphy personally. Additionally, in Welcome to Greedville, he is referenced in the memo written by Thaddeus P. Gradgrind, which can be found in the Pyramid Theater. The note says that Wario treks through a fridge bigger than Murphy's garage.

Edwin Aldrin

Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. (January 20, 1930 – ), better known as Buzz Aldrin, is a former American astronaut, engineer, and pilot known for being the second man to walk on the Moon on July 21, 1969, immediately following Neil Armstrong. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card tasks players with correctly identifying the pair as the first men on the moon; the card refers to Aldrin by his birth name rather than his more famous nickname.

Eisenhower

Dwight David Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), referred to in Super Mario media simply as Eisenhower, was an American military general and politician who served as President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. He is known for overseeing the de facto end of the Korean War (though it remains a de jure ongoing conflict), his contributions to the end of McCarthyism, and his roles in the Space Race and desegregation. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Eisenhower is mentioned in both incorrect options for the question "Which U.S. Presidents' faces are carved into Mount Rushmore?"

Erik Estrada

Henry Enrique Estrada (March 16, 1949 -) is an American actor. In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! live-action segment "Magician," Harry Blackstone Jr. went for lunch with Erik Estrada after paying a visit to Mario Brothers Plumbing.

Ernie K-Doe

Ernie K-Doe (February 22, 1933 – July 5, 2001) was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to his song "Mother-in-Law", Mario mentions that he would tell Mario and the listener that they should watch out for Mario's mother-in-law.

Feodor I of Russia

Fyodor I Ivanovich (Russian: Фёдор I Иванович) (May 31, 1557 - January 16, 1598) was Tsar of Russia, reigning from 1584 until his death in 1598, and son of Ivan the Terrible. He was mentioned in a pamphlet in the game Mario is Missing! which stated that his likeness was put on the barrel of the cannon Tsar Pushka.

Francis of Assisi

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (1181/1182 - October 3, 1226), better known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian friar and founder of the Franciscans, a Catholic order which emphasized highly austere lifestyles. Two years after his death, Pope Gregory IX declared him the patron saint of Italy, and he remains one of the most venerated figures within the Catholic Church to this day. He was mentioned by a scientist in the game Mario is Missing! as the person the city of San Francisco was named after.

Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco Bahamonde (December 4, 1892 – November 20, 1975) was a Spanish military leader and politician who ruled as dictator of Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975. He is most known for keeping Spain neutral during World War II despite his alliances with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, later allying with both countries' wartime enemy, the United States, during the Cold War. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, he is mentioned in a pamphlet about the Spanish Parliament, which describes him as a "stuffy tyrant" and erroneously claims that he died one year later than he actually did.

Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12, 1915 - May 14, 1998) was a famous Italian-American singer. In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Francis Sinatra, along with several other celebrities of Italian descent.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo (6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter. She was mentioned in the game Mario is Missing! (misspelled as Freida Kahlo) in a pamphlet about Mexico City's Fine Arts Palace as one of "Mexico's greatest artists." It is also mentioned that she was married to Diego Rivera.

Gagarin

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (Russian: Юрий Алексеевич Гагарин) (March 9, 1934 – March 27, 1968) was a Russian cosmonaut and pilot best known for being the first human being to travel into space on April 12, 1961. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Gagarin (referred to solely by his last name) appears as one of the incorrect options for the question "Who were the first men to walk on the moon?"

Gene Vincent

Gene Vincent (May 26, 1935 – October 12, 1971) was an American rock 'n' roll and rockabilly musician who was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to his song "Be-Bop-a-Lula", Mario mentions that he would tell Mario and the listener how Mario fell in love with Princess Lula.

Ghengis Kahn

Genghis Khan (Mongolian: ᠴᠢᠩᠭᠢᠰ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ, Chinggis Khagan) (c. 1162 – August 1227), formatted in-game as "Ghengis Kahn," was a Mongolian military leader and politician known for founding the Mongol Empire, which went on to become the largest contingent empire in the world and the second-largest empire overall (behind the British Empire). In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, he appears as one of the incorrect options for the question "The words of which leader are inscribed at the monument's base?", which Luigi must answer in order to return the stolen Monument to the People's Heroes to Tian An Men Square.

Gustave Eiffel

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (December 15, 1832 - December 27, 1923) was a French architect. He designed the Eiffel Tower, which was named after him, as can be read in a pamphlet in the game, Mario is Missing!.

Hadrian

Caesar Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 - July 10, 138) was a Roman emperor from 117 to 138 AD. According to a pamphlet in the game Mario is Missing!, he commissioned the building of Hadrian's Arch. He also built the city of Hadrianopolis which was separated from Athens by the Arch.

Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875) was a Danish writer known for penning numerous famous children's stories, such as Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Andersen is mentioned in one of the incorrect options for "Who wrote Don Quixote?" and "What is Christianity?"

Herbert Hoover

Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as President of the United States from 1929 to 1933. He is most known for his mishandling of the Great Depression, which resulted in him losing his reelection bid to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. In the Mario Party 7 Bon Voyage Quiz, "President Herbert Hoover" appears as an incorrect answer for the question "In Pyramid Park, whose face is carved on the Sphinx?"

Herod

Herod I (Greek: Ἡρῴδης, Hērṓidēs; Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Hōrəḏōs) (c. 72 BCE – c. 4 BCE) was a Roman Jew who ruled as the king of Judea from around 37 BCE until his death in 4 BCE. He is best known for his role in the Gospel of Matthew, which claims that he ordered the mass slaughter of all male infants in and around Bethlehem to avert the prophecy of the newborn Jesus' ascension as the Jewish Messiah. Today, Biblical scholars consider this event a myth. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, Herod appears as one of the incorrect options for one of the questions that Luigi must answer in order to verify the legitimacy of the recovered Damascus Gate (though his name is misspelled "Herrod" in-game).

Hulk Hogan

Terry Gene Bollea (August 11, 1953 - ), better known by his ring name, Hulk Hogan, is a famous retired American wrestler. In the fifth installment of Super Mario Adventures, Roy Koopa claimed that, "The Hulkster himself couldn't have stopped her!" when trying to explain why Princess Toadstool had been able to escape him and the other Koopalings. The Hulkster was one of Hulk Hogan's nicknames as a wrestler.

The Human Beinz

The Human Beinz is an American rock band that was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!! which comprised of Joe Markulin, (1946 -) John Belley, (1947 -) Mel Pachuta (1943 -), and Mike Tatman (1947 -) at the time. In the introduction to their song "Nobody but Me", Mario mentions that they know who the geezer with the pizza, the mensch with the wrench, and the plumber that ain't no bummer is: nobody but Mario.

Inez Foxx

Inez Foxx (September 9, 1937 – August 25, 2022) was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to her song "Mockingbird", Mario mentions that that her brother, Charlie Foxx, and she were about to sing "Mockingbird," a song for Birdo lovers.

Ivan the Terrible

Ivan IV Vasilyevich (Иван IV Васильевич) (August 25, 1530 - March 28, 1584), better known as Ivan the Terrible (Иван Грозный), was a Russian Tsar. He was mentioned in the game Mario is Missing! as the one to commission the building of St. Basil's Cathedral. The game erroneously refers to him as Ivan III. Ivan the Terrible is the father of Fyodor Ivanovich, who was also mentioned in the same game.

Jackie Chan

Fang Shilong (Chinese: 房仕龍 (Traditional) / 房仕龙 (Simplified); Pinyin: Fáng Shìlóng; Jyutping: fong4 si6 lung4; Wade–Giles: Fang Shih-lung) (April 7, 1954 - ), better known as Jackie Chan (Chinese: 成龍 (Traditional) / 成龙 (Simplified); Pinyin: Chéng Lóng; Jyutping: sing4 lung4; Wade–Giles: Ch'eng Lung; Yale: Sìhng Lùhng), is a renowned Hong Kong actor and martial artist. In Welcome to Greedville, he is referenced in the memo written by Thaddeus P. Gradgrind, which can be found in the Pyramid Theater.

James Dean

James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 - September 30, 1955) was an American actor. In the Donkey Kong Country episode "Hooray for Holly-Kongo Bongo", Cranky Kong sings a song in which he states that he will be "admired like James Dean or Mr. Bean."

James Naismith

James Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was a Canadian-American physician and sports coach best known for inventing basketball. One entry in the Mario Quiz Cards tasks players with correctly identifying the latter fact, with the back of the card discussing Naismith's inspiration for the game and its rise in popularity.

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935 - October 28, 2022) was an American rock 'n' roll and country musician. He was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to his song "Great Balls of Fire", Mario mentions that he was about to sing.

Jesus

Joshua (Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yəhōšūaʿ), commonly known as Jesus (Arabic: عِيسَى, ʿĪsā; Aramaic/Hebrew: יֵשׁוּעַ, Yēšūaʿ; Greek: Ἰησοῦς, Iēsoús) (c. 6 to 4 BCE – 30 or 33 CE), was a Jewish preacher best known as the central figure of the Christian religion, which reveres him as the son of the Abrahamic God, and as one of the central prophets in Islam. Both faiths additionally view him as the Jewish Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. In the PC and SNES versions of Mario is Missing!, Jesus is alluded to via the presence of the Christ the Redeemer Statue, which is designed in an interpretation of his likeness which has been standard among Christians since around the fourth century CE. Jesus is also directly mentioned in the statue's accompanying pamphlet; like the artwork's name, the pamphlet refers to him with the title "Christ," which is used by Christians to acknowledge him as the Messiah. The statue (and with it, the interpretation of Jesus' likeness) additionally appears in the 3DS and Wii U versions of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as they take place in its home country of Brazil.

Jesus is additionally discussed on the back of one of the Mario Quiz Cards, which asks the player what Christianity is. The card describes Jesus' mission in Palestine, the ideological conflicts that led to his execution via crucifixion, and his significance to the Christian religion.

Jim Nabors

James Thurston Nabors (June 12, 1930 - November 30, 2017) was an American actor and singer. During the events of "Captain Lou Is Missing", Russian members of the Lou Albano search team reported to Cyndi Lauper that "Comrade Louski" could not be found, and requested for her to send more 8-track tapes. When Mario heard the message, he suggested sending the Russians his Jim Nabors tapes.

Joe DiMaggio

Joseph Paul DiMaggio (November 25, 1914 - March 8, 1999) was a famous American baseball player of American descent. In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Joe DiMaggio, along with several other celebrities of Italian descent.

Joe Jones

Joe Jones (August 12, 1926 – November 27, 2005) was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!!. In the introduction to his song "You Talk Too Much", Mario mentions that since Luigi always tells him that he talks too much, he would ask Joe Jones, an honorary mushroom, for his opinion.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (March 31, 1686 – July 28, 1750) was a German composer and musician. In Welcome to Greedville, he is referenced in the Greed $chool Test, found in the Greed $chool.

John Ford

John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), commonly known by his trade name, John Ford, was an American film director best known for his western movies. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one entry asks players which director was the first to win four Oscars, the correct answer being Ford. The back of the card features a portrait and brief biography of Ford, emphasizing his role in the history of the western genre.

John James Audubon

John James Audubon (April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) was a French-American artist and ornithologist best known for his pictorial documentation of North America's various species of birds. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one entry tasks players with identifying who Audubon was, with the back featuring a portrait and biography of him, describing his contributions to the field of ornithology.

José Hernández

José Hernández (November 10, 1834 - October 21, 1886, spelled Jose Hernandez in-game) was an Argentinian writer and politician. The Gaucho Museum in Buenos Aires which Luigi visits in the game Mario is Missing! is dedicated to Hernández.

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Georgian: იოსებ ბესარიონის ძე სტალინი, Ioseb Besarionis dze Stalini; Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин, Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin) (December 18, 1878 – March 5, 1953) was a Georgian politician who served as de facto leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953 (though like his predecessor, Vladimir Lenin, he was not the de jure head of state). He is best known as the primary military leader against Nazi Germany during the Eastern Front of World War II and as the namesake of Stalinism, an ultra-authoritarian interpretation of Marxist-Leninist communism which influenced the policies of multiple other Eastern Bloc states. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, Stalin (whose first name is given the alternate spelling "Josef") is mentioned in a pamphlet about the Moscow Metro, which credits him with building the establishment. A scientist in Moscow additionally states that "Stalin ordered the Metro to begin service in 1935." Additionally, in the NES version, one of the questions that Luigi must answer when returning the Emperor's Bell is "Who had the bell placed in the tower?", with "Joseph Stalin" being one of the incorrect options.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Charles Reeves (September 2, 1964 - ) is a renowned Canadian actor. In Welcome to Greedville, he is simply referred as "Keanu" in the memo written by Thaddeus P. Gradgrind, found in the Pyramid Theater.

Kevin

Kevin is a person from Dana Point, California who is mentioned in the Club Mario episode accompanying "The Koopas are Coming! The Koopas are Coming!", having sent a letter to Club Mario asking Dr. Know-It-All what the biggest lake in the world is.

Lawrence of Arabia

Thomas Edward Lawrence (August 16, 1888 – May 19, 1935), popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia, was an English military officer best known for his role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player who Lawrence of Arabia was, with the back featuring a photo and biography of him, discussing the aid he provided to anti-Ottoman Arabs.

Lillian Hitchcock Coit

Lillie Hitchcock Coit (August 23, 1843 - July 22, 1929) was mentioned in a pamphlet in the game Mario is Missing!. She donated 125,000 dollars to the building of Coit Tower, which was named after her.

Louis XVI

Louis XVI (August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793) was the king of France from 1774 until his execution in 1793 during the French Revolution. He is most known for his support for the American Revolution and his mishandling of the financial crisis in his home country that followed, with the latter culminating in his deposition and the consequent end of the Ancien Régime, the original dynastic monarchy of France. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card lists his death as one of the incorrect options for the question "What event marked the beginning of the French Revolution?" Louis XVI is also mentioned in the explanation of the correct answer provided on the back.

Lyndon Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973) was an American politician who served as President of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He is best known for his domestic reforms, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, and for the widespread protests he faced over his handling of US involvement in the Vietnam War, ultimately becoming the last incumbent president to withdraw from his reelection campaign until Joe Biden in 2024. Johnson is mentioned on the back of one of the Mario Quiz Cards, which asks players when the US began observing Mother's day. The card states that Johnson was the one who declared Father's Day a national holiday in 1966.

Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone (August 16, 1958 -) is a famous American singer. During the events of "Fortune Teller", it was revealed that the first-place prize of the Big Time Celebrity Prize Sweepstake Giveaway was a night on the town with Madonna.

Malik

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (Arabic: عَبْد الْمَلِك ٱبْن مَرْوَان ٱبْن الْحَكَم) (7th century - October 9, 705), referred to in-game as Malik, was the fifth Umayyad caliph, reigning from 685 until his death in 705. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, a pamphlet in Jerusalem states that he founded the Dome of the Rock in 691.

Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong (Chinese: 毛澤東 (Traditional) / 毛泽东 (Simplified); Pinyin: Máo Zédōng; Jyutping: mou4 zaak6 dung1; Wade–Giles: Mao Tse-tung; Yale: Mòuh Jaahk-dūng) (December 26, 1893 - September 9, 1976) was a Chinese communist military and political leader, serving as the first head of state of the People's Republic of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. He was mentioned in a pamphlet in the game Mario is Missing! as the one to announce the formation of the state in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace in 1949. Later, when Luigi tries to return the gate after it is stolen by the Koopa Troop, one of the questions he must answer to prove its legitimacy asks "Who built the heavenly gate?" Two of the incorrect options are both Mao Zedong – one option features this exact romanization, while the other uses the Wade–Giles romanization that was commonly used within his lifetime, formatted in-game as "Mao Tse Tung."

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 - August 4, 1962) was an American actress, singer and model. She was mentioned in the comic The Mario Bros. Guide to Grooming Your Moustache, where Luigi, showing Mario with a blonde and wavy moustache, says: "If Marilyn Monroe had grown a moustache, it would have looked like this".

Marilyn Monroe also appears as a puzzle in the original release of Mario's Super Picross. In re-releases of the game, the puzzle is changed to a giant tortoise.

Martha Graham

Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American dancer and choreographer best known for her substantial impact on the evolution of American dance. One entry in the Mario Quiz Cards asks players who Graham was, with the back of the card featuring a photo and short biography of her.

Mehmet

Mehmed II (Ottoman Turkish: محمد ثانى, Meḥmed-i s̱ānī; Turkish: II. Mehmed), also known as Mehmed the Conqueror (Ottoman Turkish: ابو الفتح, Ebū'l-fetḥ; Turkish: Fâtih Sultan Mehmed), was a sultan of the Ottoman Empire, ruling from 1444 to 1446 and again from 1451 to 1481. In the PC version of Mario is Missing! (which spells his name as "Mehmet"), he is mentioned in a pamphlet as the one who built the Topkapi Museum.

Mel Gibson

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (January 3, 1956 - ) is a famous American actor who passes through Brooklyn in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! live-action segment "Marianne and Luigeena." Marianne and Luigeena notice him while searching for Mario and Luigi. As a result, they quickly lose interest in Lyle Alzado and leave to track Mel Gibson back to his home. Lyle Alzado then grumbles about Mel Gibson stealing Marianne and Luigeena from him.

Michael Collins

Michael "Mike" Collins (October 31, 1930 – April 28, 2021) was an American astronaut best known as the third crew member in the Apollo 11 mission, which carried Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon and allowed them to become the first humans to walk on its surface on July 21, 1969. Unlike Armstrong and Aldrin, Collins did not set foot on the lunar surface, as he had to continue piloting the command module so that the three of them could safely return to Earth. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Collins is mentioned on the back of a card which tasks players with identifying the first men to walk on the moon; the card names him as one of the three men who piloted the Apollo 11 spacecraft (the card refers to the mission with the unconventional formatting "Apollo XI"; even official NASA iconography uses Arabic numerals for the mission's name rather than Roman ones).

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was a famous American singer and a former lead singer of the boy band group the Jackson 5. In "Will the Real Elvis Please Shut Up!", Elvis Presley, upon meeting Mario dressed up as an Elvis impersonator, claims that he looks like Jackson on a yeast diet.

Additionally, Jackson was the original performer of the songs "Bad", "Thriller", and "Beat It", cover versions of which are played in the animated episodes "King Mario of Cramalot", "Count Koopula", and "The Unzappables" respectively.

Jackson makes a cameo appearance in the Club Nintendo comic Super Mario: Coole Klänge as one of the musicians waiting for an appointment with Max Milliplatt.

Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (September 29, 1547 – April 22, 1616) was a Spanish writer best known for penning Don Quixote, a satire of chivalric literature widely considered the first modern novel. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card tasks players with identifying Cervantes as the book's author. The accompanying illustration depicts Mario and Luigi in-character as Sancho Paza and Quixote, respectively, during the iconic scene where Quixote attacks a windmill under the delusion that it is a ferocious giant.

Mohammed

Muhammad (Arabic: مُحَمَّد, Muḥammad) (c. 570 – June 8, 632 CE) was an Arabic sociopolitical and religious leader best known as the founder and most revered prophet in Islam. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Muhammad (spelled with the alternate romanization Mohammed) is mentioned on the back of a card asking players what a lotus is, noting that "According to Islamic tradition, white roses fell from the sweat of the prophet Mohammed as he ascended toward heaven."

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha, popularly known simply as Muhammad Ali (Albanian: Mehmet Ali; Arabic: محمد علي, Muḥammad ‘Alī; Turkish: Kavalalı Mehmed Ali) (March 4, 1769 - August 2, 1849) was an Albanian Ottoman military commander and politician who served as Wāli (a governor) of Egypt and Sudan, founding the modern Egyptian state. He commissioned the building of a mosque which Luigi visits in Mario is Missing!.

Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte (August 15, 1769 - May 5, 1821) was a French military and political leader who served as the head of state of the French First Republic and First French Empire from 1799 to 1814 and again for 110 days the following year. In the game Mario is Missing!, he was mentioned in a pamphlet as the commissioner of the Arc de Triomphe.

Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and engineer best known for being the first human being to walk on the Moon on July 21, 1969. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks players to correctly identify Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin as the first men to achieve the feat.

Nero

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 - June 9, 68) was the emperor of Rome from 54 until his death in 68. A popular (though academically disputed) legend says that Nero was playing the lyre (often described as a fiddle) while Rome burned. In the game Mario is Missing!, a scientist in Rome refers to this legend by saying "remember Nero and his fiddle?"

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was a Spanish painter famous for his prolific output and constant, eclectic shifts in style. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player to name the artist who founded Cubism, the correct answer being Picasso. The back of the card features a photo and biography of Picasso, which segues into an explanation of cubism.

Pope

The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and is mentioned twice in the game Mario is Missing!. First, Pope Julius II (December 5, 1443 - February 21, 1513) is mentioned as the person to commission Michelangelo Buonarroti to decorate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When this ceiling is stolen in-game, the Roman police officer mentions that "the Pope went through the roof". Since the game was first released in 1992, he was referring to Pope John Paul II (May 18, 1920 - April 2, 2005), who was holding the office at the time.

Queen of England

Elizabeth II (April 21, 1926 - September 8, 2022), referred to in Super Mario media as the Queen of England or simply the Queen, was the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1952 until her death in 2022. In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! live-action segment "No Way to Treat a Queenie", the Queen pays a visit to New York City, which excites Luigi, who hopes to meet her. Mario explains to Luigi that the Queen would never come to Brooklyn and is too high up to mingle with little people like them. However, Liz, a woman pretending to be the Queen, comes to Mario Brothers Plumbing and convinces Mario and Luigi that she really is the Queen. During her stay, they treat her like common folk, allowing her to clean and cook. She then knights Mario and Luigi as sirs before her doctor arrives, explaining that she had escaped from her home and had to return. Although they realized that the woman was not a good Queen, she did make a good fish and chips pizza.

Richard Leakey

Richard Erskine Frere Leakey (December 19, 1944 - January 2, 2022) was a Kenyan paleontologist and conservationist. He was mentioned in the game Mario is Missing! (where he was misspelled Richard Leaky) as the one to discover the Homo habilis skull.

Roger Ebert

Roger Joseph Ebert (June 18, 1942 - April 4, 2013) was a highly acclaimed American film critic, journalist, and screenwriter. In Welcome to Greedville, he is referenced in the memo written by Thaddeus P. Gradgrind, which can be found in the Pyramid Theater.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an American civil rights activist known for instigating the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a form of protest against racial segregation in the southern United States. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player who Rosa Parks was. The back of the card features a photo and a short biography of her, discussing her role in promoting nonviolent protest during the Civil Rights Movement.

Rufino Tamayo

Rufino del Carmen Arellanes Tamayo (August 25, 1899 - June 24, 1991) was a Mexican painter. He was cited (misspelled as Tomayo) in the game Mario is Missing! in a pamphlet about the Fine Arts Palace (Mexico City) as one of "Mexico's greatest artists."

Scott Baio

Scott Vincent James Baio (September 22, 1960 -) is an American actor. During the events of "Fortune Teller", it was revealed that the grand prize of the Big Time Celebrity Prize Sweepstake Giveaway was milk and cookies with Scott Baio. As all the other prizes were dates with famous women, Mario and Luigi were worried that they might actually win the Scott Baio prize.

Shaq

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (March 6, 1972 - ) is a former professional basketball player. In Welcome to Greedville, he is referenced in the Greed $chool Test, found in the Greed $chool.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell (February 22, 1857 – January 8, 1941), referred to in Super Mario media as Sir Robert Baden-Powell, was an English military officer best known for founding the Scout Movement. In the Mario Quiz Cards, one card asks the player who founded the Boy Scouts (the main chapter of the Scout Movement); the back of the card clarifies that the correct choice is Baden-Powell.

Sonny Bono

Salvatore Phillip Bono, (February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was a famous American singer and politician and an ex-husband of Cher. During the events of "Cher's Poochie", when Cher arrived at Mario Brothers Plumbing, Luigi poked fun of her gawky childhood appearance. Cher then corrected Luigi, saying that he must have mistaken her for Sonny.

Sophia Loren

Sofia Villani Scicolone (September 20, 1934 -) is a famous Italian actress. She was mentioned a few times during the events of "Fortune Teller", as the third-place prize of the Big Time Celebrity Prize Sweepstake Giveaway was a trip to Italy with Sophia Loren, which Mario and Luigi wanted to win.

Steven Griffin

Steven Griffin is one of the two sons of Nancy Blair Griffin, whom Donkey Kong mentioned in a Medialab interview with her. When Nancy is about to talk about them, Donkey Kong interrupts her and guesses their name correctly, implying that he had heard of them before.

Suleiman the Magnificent

Suleiman I (Ottoman Turkish: سليمان اول, Süleyman-ı Evvel; Turkish: Süleyman) (November 6, 1494 - September 6, 1566), better known as Suleiman the Magnificent, was the tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1520 until his death in 1566. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, he is mentioned in a pamphlet in Jerusalem as the one who ordered the construction of the walls and gates surrounding Old Town, including the Damascus Gate.

Sunplaza Nakano

Nakano Yuki (Japanese: 中野中野) (August 15, 1960), better known as Sunplaza Nakano (Japanese: サンプラザ中野) or Sunplaza Nakano-kun (Japanese: サンプラザ中野くん) is a Japanese musician and author. At the time, he was one of the night hosts for the All Night Nippon radio program. In the game manual of All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros., it is mentioned that "Sunplaza was fooled by Koopa's letter to his 'Illusionary Business Prosperity' corner into visiting him. And he was changed into Koopa Tribe minion 'OkaP.'" Although not present in the game, the enemies "OkaP" and "Pakkun OkaP" seem to have been based on his appearance.

Nakano is also mentioned in a sidenote in Super Mario Land, mentioning how Hiyoihoi looks to him.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was an American politician who served as President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He is notable for his progressive socioeconomic policies which ended the Gilded Age and for the fact that he was the youngest president in American history, taking office at age 42 following the assassination of his predecessor. In the Mario Quiz Cards, Roosevelt is mentioned on a card which asks which presidents are on the faces of Mount Rushmore.

Tom Cruise

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (July 3, 1962 - ) is a renowned American actor and producer. In Welcome to Greedville he is simply referred as "Cruise" in the Gazette Review, found in the Pyramid Theater.

Tommy James and the Shondells

Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band that was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!! which comprised of Eddie Gray, (February 27, 1948 -) Peter Lucia Jr., (February 2, 1947 - January 6, 1987) Mike Vale, (July 17, 1949 -) Ron Rossman, (February 28, 1945 -) and Tommy James (April 29, 1947 -) at the time. In the introduction to their song "Mony Mony", Mario mentions that they were going to sing about Princess Mony. In actuality MONY is an acronym for the Mutual of New York insurance company.

Tutenkhamen

Tutankhamun (Ancient Egyptian: 𓇋𓈖𓅲𓋹, Tut ankh Amun) (c. 1341 BCE – c. 1323 BCE), spelled in-game as Tutenkhamen, was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from approximately 1332 BCE to 1323 BCE. He is known for his young age, ascending to the throne when he was just nine years old, and for the widespread publicity that followed the 1922 discovery of the tomb where he was buried, which ushered in major western interest in Ancient Egyptian history. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, Tutankhamun's funerary mask is stolen from the tomb by the Koopa Troop; when Luigi recovers and returns it, he must answer two questions about the pharaoh to prove the artifact's legitimacy.

Valerie Bertinelli

Valerie Anne Bertinelli (April 23, 1960 -) is an American actress of Italian descent. In "The Venice Menace", the Gondolier briefly mentioned Valerie Bertinelli, along with several other celebrities of Italian descent.

The Ventures

The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band that was mentioned by Mario in Super Mario Bros.: Favorite Mushroom Party Hits!!! which comprised of Bob Bogle, (January 16, 1934 – June 14, 2009) Don Wilson, (February 10, 1933 - January 22, 2022) Gerry McGee, (November 17, 1937 - October 12, 2019) and Mel Taylor (September 24, 1933 – August 11, 1996) at the time. In the introduction to their song "Walk, Don't Run", Mario mentions that they have a safety tip to keep people who have to sprint down halls because they were carried away playing Super Mario out of trouble: "Walk, don't run!"

Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Russian: Владимир Ильич Ульянов) (April 22, 1870 – January 21, 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin (Russian: Владимир Ленин), was a Russian political theorist and communist revolutionary who served as the first de facto leader of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1917 until his death in 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death (though he was not the de jure head of state). He is also known as the founder and namesake of Marxism-Leninism, which served as the leading school of communism until the Soviet Union's dissolution at the end of 1991, and for leading the October Revolution, which deposed the Russian Republic in favor of its Soviet counterpart. In the PC version of Mario is Missing!, Lenin is mentioned when Luigi visits Moscow, the former capital of the Soviet Union; his tomb is shut down when the Koopa Troop steals the guard's hat pin, and Luigi must answer questions about Lenin in order to prove its legitimacy after recovering it. The tomb's pamphlet also gives a brief overview of Lenin and his role in the Russian Revolution (though it mistakenly implies that he led the February Revolution, which deposed the monarchy in favor of the Russian Republic, rather than the October one).

Woodrow Wilson

Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was an American politician and scholar who served as President of the United States from 1913 to 1921. He is best known for maintaining American neutrality during most of World War I before entering the conflict in its final days. Wilson is mentioned on the back of one of the Mario Quiz Cards, which asks the player when the United States first observed Mother's Day. The card states that Wilsonwas the president who declared it a national holiday in 1914.

Yung Le

The Yongle Emperor (Chinese: 永樂帝 (Traditional) / 永乐帝 (Simplified); Pinyin: Yǒnglè Dì; Jyutping: Wing5-lok6 dai3; Wade–Giles: Yung-le Ti) (May 2, 1360 – August 12, 1424), referred to in Super Mario media as Yung Le and Yung Lee, was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty in ancient China, reigning from 1402 until his death in 1424. In Mario is Missing!, he is erroneously credited with building the Gate of Heavenly Peace. While he ordered its construction, it was designed by Kuai Xiang in conjunction with other architects.