| Jerome McElroy | |
|---|---|
| South Park character | |
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| First appearance | "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" (1997) |
| Last appearance | The Stick of Truth (2014) |
| Created by | Trey Parker Matt Stone |
| Voiced by | Isaac Hayes Trey Parker (singing, in "The Succubus") Peter Serafinowicz (Darth Chef) |
| In-universe information | |
| Aliases | Abdul Mohammed Jabar Rauf Kareem Ali (in "Chef Goes Nanners") |
| Occupation | School Cafeteria chef |
| Family | Nellie McElroy (mother) Thomas McElroy (father) |
| Nationality | American |
| Residence | South Park, Colorado |
Chef Jerome McElroy, often referred to as just "Chef", is a 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. He 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.
- ^ "University of Colorado Students Tell It Like It Is". collegeprowler.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-02-28.