Chef (South Park)

Jerome McElroy
South Park character
First appearance	"Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" (1997)
Last appearance	South Park: The Stick of Truth (2014)
Created by	Trey Parker Matt Stone
Designed by	Trey Parker Matt Stone
Voiced by	Isaac Hayes Trey Parker (singing, in "The Succubus") Peter Serafinowicz (as Darth Chef)
In-universe information
Aliases	Abdul Mohammed Jabar Rauf Kareem Ali (in "Chef Goes Nanners"), Charlie (in Return to Sleepaway Camp)
Occupation	School cafeteria chef
Family	Nellie McElroy (mother) Thomas McElroy (father)
Nationality	American
Residence	South Park, Colorado

Jerome Nigel McElroy, often referred to as "The Chef" or simply "Chef", is a recurring fictional character on the Comedy Central series South Park who was voiced by Isaac Hayes. A cafeteria worker at the local elementary school in the town of South Park, Colorado, Chef is generally portrayed as more intelligent than the other adult residents of the town, and understanding to the children. His advice is often sought by the show's core group of child protagonists—Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick—as he is the only adult they completely trust. Chef frequently gives completely honest advice without considering whether it is appropriate for children, usually in the non sequitur form of a lascivious soul song.

Chef was inspired by Hayes and other popular soul singers of the 1970s, as well as an actual dining hall worker encountered by series co-creator Trey Parker while he attended the University of Colorado.^[1] Chef played a less prominent role as the series progressed beyond its earlier seasons, and the character was retired at the beginning of the tenth season in "The Return of Chef" following the controversial departure of Hayes.