Jump to content

Trey Parker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 89.101.49.199 (talk) at 17:18, 1 October 2009 (It IS the same guy. The EYC page reflects this. REVERTED.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Trey Parker
Parker at The Amazing Meeting, January 20, 2007
Born
Randolph Severn Parker III
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, director, producer
SpouseEmma Sugiyama

Trey Parker (born Randolph Severn Parker III on October 19, 1969) is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.

Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short titled Jesus vs. Frosty. His first success came from Cannibal! The Musical. From there he made another short title Jesus vs. Santa, which led him and his college friend, Matt Stone, to create the animated television series South Park, which has been on television for over a decade. He has won 4 Emmy Awards for his role in South Park, winning for both "Outstanding Programming More Than One Hour" and "Outstanding Programming Less Than One Hour".

Biography

Early life

Parker was born in Conifer, Colorado, the son of Sharon Parker, an insurance broker, and Randy Parker, a geologist (who share the first names and occupations of South Park characters Randy and Sharon Marsh).[1] He has an older sister named Shelley, also the name of Stan Marsh's older sister. Parker grew up in the Denver, Colorado area, and attended Berklee College of Music before transferring to the University of Colorado, where he majored in music.[2] However, he did not graduate. The university offered him an honorary degree and he said he would only accept "if it was for astro physics."

Career

In 1992 Parker and Stone created Jesus vs. Frosty.[3] It included four boys, two resembling Stan Marsh and Kyle Brovloski , one called Kenny Mckormick and Eric Cartman, and a fourth unnamed boy who looked like Kenny. Both Jesus vs. Frosty and Cannibal! The Musical were made while they were students at the University of Colorado film school, studying under both Stan Brakhage and Jerry Aronson. Fox executive Brian Graden saw Cannibal! The Musical, and commissioned Parker and Stone to create Time Warped, a show similar to Cannibal!, but on a weekly basis. After two pilot episodes, the show was dropped.

After the duo released Cannibal! The Musical, they were asked to make another animated short. They came down to two ideas; one a sequel to Jesus vs. Frosty, entitled Jesus vs. Santa, and one about a character that would later be recurring in South Park, Mr. Hankey.[4] They chose to write about the four boys, and their decision ultimately opened the door for them to present a show, South Park, to Comedy Central.[5] Stone and Parker produced 13 episodes for season 1. South Park is currently still under contract to produce new episodes through 2011.[6]

Trey was also a member of the boy band E.Y.C.. They had relatively small success. Trey quit the band in 1996 to focus on filmography.

In 1997, they also released Orgazmo, a movie rated NC-17. In 1998, they starred in (but did not write or direct) BASEketball, another feature film, while being renewed for a second season of South Park. In 1999, Parker and Stone made South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, which gave the series prominence.[7] The film's music was nominated for an Academy Award, but lost. In 2001, the duo announced they would do 39 shorts between the lengths of 2 and 5 minutes. Although originally thought to be South Park related, they decided they would do something different. The result was the shorts Princess.[8] The content was so extreme that it was cancelled after two shows aired. In 2001, they also created That's My Bush!, another television series. Despite great reviews, the show was cancelled after one season for the cost per episode. In 2004, they made a film, titled Team America: World Police.[9][10] The film was not a box-office success. As of 2009, South Park is in its thirteenth season.

Parker is also a member of the band DVDA with Stone, for which he plays keyboards and sings. DVDA's songs have appeared in many of the duo's productions. They include Orgazmo, BASEketball , South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, and Team America: World Police.[11][12][13][14]

Trey claimed to have been on acid with Matt Stone at the time of the 2000 Academy Awards, where they wore dresses popularized by Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow at previous awards shows.[15]

On September 28, 2007, Parker and Stone acquired the rights to the Canadian-made Kenny vs. Spenny, which premiered November 14, 2007 on Comedy Central with ten old and new episodes.[16]

Parker and Stone are collaborating with Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez on a musical about Mormons, has a working title of Mormon Musical, which will star Cheyenne Jackson, and is planned for a 2009 opening.[17]

File:StanMarsh.svg
Stan Marsh, a South Park character largely based on Trey.

Voices on South Park

Trey Parker voices Eric Cartman and Stan Marsh, two of the main characters on the show. He also voices recurring characters Randy Marsh, Marvin Marsh, Starvin' Marvin, Clyde Donovan, Mr. Garrison, Ned Gerblansky, Dr. Alphonse Mephesto, Stephen Stotch, Mr. Hankey, Santa Claus, Mr. Mackey, Officer Barbrady, Ms. Choksondik, Timmy, Jimmy Vulmer, Tuong Lu Kim, Phillip, and Satan, as well as many other minor speaking roles.

Religion

On a September 2006 airing of the ABC news program Nightline, Parker articulated his position on religion. He stated that he believes there is more going on than we even know about and cautioned that it would take a long time to explain exactly what he meant by his belief in God. Stone subsequently added, "I still don't understand it."[18]

Regarding atheism, Parker stated the following:[19]

"Basically ... out of all the ridiculous religion stories which are greatly, wonderfully ridiculous—the silliest one I've ever heard is, 'Yeah ... there's this big giant universe and it's expanding, it's all gonna collapse on itself and we're all just here just 'cause ... just 'cause'. That, to me, is the most ridiculous explanation ever."

Discography

Filmography

Year Production Role Other notes
1992 Jesus vs. Frosty Actor, Producer, Writer
1994 Cannibal! The Musical Director, Actor, Producer, Writer
1995 Jesus vs. Santa Actor, Producer, Writer
Time Warped (un-aired television series) Creator, Actor
1996 Your Studio and You Actor, Writer, Director Cameo
1997 South Park (Television Series; 1997-present) Co-Creator, Voice Actor, Writer, Director, Executive Producer
Orgazmo Actor, Writer, Producer
1998 BASEketball Actor
1999 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut Director, Voice Actor, Writer, Producer
2000 Even If You Don't Director Music Video
2001 Princess (Flash series) Director, Writer, Voice Actor, Producer Animation Shorts
That's My Bush! (Television Series; 2001) Co-creator, Writer, Executive Producer Cameo
2004 Team America: World Police Director, Writer, Voice Actor, Producer
2005 The Aristocrats Guest Appearance

References

  1. ^ "Trey Parker Biography". tv.com. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  2. ^ "University of Colorado Alumni". University of Colorado, Boulder. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  3. ^ "The Spirit of Christmas: Jesus vs. Frosty". spscriptorium.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  4. ^ "The South Park Timeline". spscriptorium.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  5. ^ "The Spirit of Christmas: Jesus vs. Santa". spscriptorium.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  6. ^ "South Park Renewed for Three". animationmagazine.net. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  7. ^ "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut". bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  8. ^ "Princess". spschat.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  9. ^ "Trey Parker and Matt Stone talk Team America: World Police". movieweb.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  10. ^ "Interview with Matt Stone". BBC Movies. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  11. ^ "Soundtracks for South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  12. ^ "Soundtracks for Orgazmo". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  13. ^ "Soundtracks for BASEketball". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  14. ^ "Soundtracks for Team America: World Police". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  15. ^ Otto, Jeff. "Interview: Trey Parker and Matt Stone". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  16. ^ Associated Press. "Cdn. show hits Comedy Central thanks to South Park creators". cbcnews.ca. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  17. ^ Adams, Guy (2008-11-19), "Mormons to get 'South Park' treatment", Independent
  18. ^ Secrets of 'South Park', Sept, 2006.
  19. ^ Secrets of 'South Park', Sept, 2006.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trey_Parker&oldid=317311852"