Professor E. Gadd

Professor Elvin Gadd, better known simply as E. Gadd (Karl Tastroff, better known simply as K. Tastroff in French), is a supporting character in Nintendo's Super Mario franchise, most notably being the deuteragonist of its spin-off videogame Luigi's Mansion.

He is an eccentric and brilliant scientist specializing in ghost-hunting and inventing. Various inventions found throughout the Mario series can all be traced back to him. He is considered the resident genius of the Mushroom Kingdom. He is also Luigi’s mentor and friend, being responsible for aiding him in his quest to defeat King Boo.

He appears for the first time in the game when Luigi enters the Parlor on the second floor. As the trembling Luigi wanders in the room, he encounters an orange ghost that suddenly scares him. When it looks like the ghost is going to attack Luigi, Professor E. Gadd appears, sucking the orange ghost with the Poltergust 3000. Despite his efforts, he fails to suck in the orange ghost, but at least manages to drive it away. Afterwards, Professor E. Gadd presents himself to Luigi, explaining that the entire mansion is haunted. He says he is surprised at Luigi's courage to enter the mansion alone and asks him what brings him to the creepy manor. Then Luigi and E. Gadd leave to the latter's laboratory after some ghosts materialize and try to catch them. E. Gadd has heard who Luigi is, how his life went and the backstory of the mansion. Luigi explains that he is looking Mario, who has been missing in the mansion for a while. Agreeing to help Luigi find his brother, Professor E. Gadd hands the Poltergust 3000 to Luigi and starts to train him in the training room. After the training, Luigi then goes to the mansion with the vacuum cleaner and a flashlight. In addition to the Poltergust 3000, E. Gadd also provides him the GameBoy Horror, through which he receives tips and information from the professor. E. Gadd guides Luigi throughout his quest in the haunted mansion. Once Luigi beats the Boss Ghost of an area, Professor E. Gadd summons him back to the Lab so they may turn the ghosts back into paintings. Eventually Luigi defeats King Boo and rescues Mario. And E. Gadd, in gratitude to Luigi for returning his paintings, uses the treasure Luigi found to get him a new home.