Trey Parker

Trey Parker (born October 19, 1969) is an American playwright, composer, animator, director, actor, and satirist best known as the co-creator of the long-running animated series South Park and the Tony Award–winning musical The Book of Mormon. Born in Conifer, Colorado, Parker studied at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he met his creative partner Matt Stone. Together, the duo built a career on bold, irreverent humor that skewers pop culture, politics, and religion with equal intensity and wit.

Parker rose to fame in 1997 with the launch of South Park, co-created with Stone. The show’s crude animation style and outrageous humor masked a surprisingly sharp and thoughtful social commentary. Parker writes, directs, voices, and scores much of the series, helping it become one of the most influential and longest-running animated series in television history. His musical and narrative instincts—especially in satirical songwriting—became a defining trait of his career.

Parker’s talents as a playwright and composer reached a new level with the 2011 Broadway hit The Book of Mormon, co-written with Matt Stone and Robert Lopez (co-creator of Avenue Q and Frozen). The musical tells the story of two naïve Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda and hilariously examines religion, culture clash, and idealism. The Book of Mormon was an immediate critical and commercial success, winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score, with Parker himself receiving Tonys for directing and co-writing. The show was praised not only for its humor but also for its surprisingly sincere and heartfelt themes.

In addition to his work in television and theatre, Parker has directed and written several feature films, including the cult classics Cannibal! The Musical (1993), Orgazmo (1997), and Team America: World Police (2004). He is also a gifted composer, often creating elaborate original songs for his projects that blend musical theatre, rock, and parody with remarkable skill.

Trey Parker’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, and a Peabody Award. His fearless approach to storytelling—balancing crude humor with incisive commentary and musical brilliance—has made him one of the most distinctive voices in American entertainment. Whether through animation, film, or musical theatre, Parker continues to challenge conventions and delight audiences worldwide.