Last reviewed on 2026-05-02
Eric Cartman
The SociopathThe show's engine — a gleefully self-serving, manipulative child whose schemes escalate from petty revenge to genuinely dark territory with cheerful abandon. Cartman's catchphrases, his contempt for Kyle, and his complete lack of moral inhibition make him one of TV's most quoted characters. Beneath the cartoon villainy, South Park occasionally reveals the neglect and dysfunction that made him this way — though he'd deny it immediately.
Kenny McCormick
The Immortal Poor KidThe perpetually parka-wearing, perpetually dying kid from South Park's poorest family — whose deaths by increasingly absurd means became the show's signature running gag before being abandoned in later seasons. Kenny's muffled dialogue (genuinely explicit, as the show occasionally reveals), his surprising competence when the story needs it, and his alter ego Mysterion exploring his immortality are among South Park's best character work.
Stan Marsh
The EverymanThe show's closest thing to a straight man — a kid who starts each episode with relatively normal expectations and ends it thoroughly disillusioned. Stan's arc in later seasons (his cynicism, his parents' divorce, his literal inability to not hear everything as "shit") reflects the show's own complicated relationship with sincerity. His friendship with Kyle and his relationship with Wendy give him the show's most grounded emotional life.
Kyle Broflovski
The Moral VoiceThe Jewish kid whose moral conscience makes him Cartman's eternal foil and the character most likely to deliver a sincere speech about why something matters. Kyle's earnestness is both the butt of jokes and the show's genuine moral anchor — his willingness to stand up, even knowing he'll be ignored, defines his character. His friendship with Stan and his contempt for Cartman are South Park's most consistent emotional throughlines.
Butters Stotch
The Innocent"Oh hamburgers!" South Park's most purely innocent character — a sweet, naive boy with abusive, oblivious parents who is most often victimized by Cartman's schemes. Butters's alter ego Professor Chaos, his brief stint as Cartman's replacement main character, and his genuine emotional openness make him one of the show's most beloved characters. He represents everything the others have lost: the ability to be genuinely enthusiastic about life.
Randy Marsh
Stan's Dad / The Main CharacterStan's geologist father who evolved from background parent to arguably South Park's true main character in later seasons — his schemes, delusions, and completely unearned confidence driving the show's funniest episode runs. Randy's weed farm (Tegridy Farms), his Lorde phase, and his sheer inability to behave like an adult despite being one have made him a fan favorite. He has more character than the children at this point.
Mr. Garrison
Fourth Grade TeacherSouth Park Elementary's increasingly unstable fourth-grade teacher — a character whose arc has taken him through sex changes, presidential runs (serving as the show's Trump analogue), and back to school with seemingly no continuity required. Mr. Garrison's political satire functions, his dysfunctional teaching, and his antagonistic relationship with his own students give him a unique position in the show's rotating cast of adult disasters.
Chef
School Cafeteria ChefJerome "Chef" McElroy — the soul-singing cafeteria worker who served as the boys' wise adult mentor through the show's early seasons. Chef's advice (usually delivered via sexually-themed songs), his genuine affection for the kids, and Isaac Hayes's voice work made him a fan favorite. His departure from the show — controversial and handled with characteristic South Park gracelessness — remains one of the show's most discussed moments.
Tweek Tweak
The Anxious KidThe perpetually twitching, coffee-addled kid whose anxiety is played entirely for laughs — until his relationship with Craig Tucker became one of South Park's most unexpected and genuine character developments. "Tweek x Craig" made their pairing official (via school yaoi fan art, then reality), and their relationship has been treated with surprising sincerity in the show's later seasons. Tweek's shaking deliveries and Craig's deadpan responses are a perfect comedy duo.
Token Black
The Only Black KidSouth Park's sole Black student — a character whose entire existence is the show's self-aware joke about its own demographic uniformity. Token's wealth (his family is clearly upper-middle class), his occasional role as straight man to the town's racism, and the show's willingness to make his tokenhood the explicit subject of episodes give him more satirical function than most supporting characters. A recent episode renamed him "Tolkien," adding another layer.
About South Park
South Park was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and premiered on Comedy Central on August 13, 1997. Now in its 27th season, it is one of the longest-running animated series in American television history and the longest-running on cable.
The show is known for its rapid production turnaround (episodes are often produced within days of airing to react to current events), its willingness to satirize everyone equally, and its evolving from shock-value gross-out humor to genuinely complex political satire. Its Paramount+ specials and streaming deals have brought it into the modern era with its characteristic irreverence intact.