Mario is copyright Nintendo.
Mario, Nintendo’s central mascot and protagonist of dozens of popular video games, is probably the most famous plumber in the world. Whether or not he actually knows how to plumb, however, is a topic for another day.
Originally known as “Jumpman” for the game Donkey Kong in 1981, the character was renamed Mario when Donkey Kong Jr. was released the next year. When Mario’s brother Luigi was introduced in 1983 for the game Mario Bros., Mario underwent a career change from carpenter to plumber, and has never looked back.
Super Mario Bros., released in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, ensured Mario’s continued success, and paved the way for him to become one of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world, and the Super Mario series has become the world’s bestselling game franchise.
Mario’s ability to actually unclog a drain or install a hot water tank may be dubious, but there is no question that the plumbing industry couldn’t ask for much more in pop culture representation.