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Matt Stone at Peabody Awards in 2006

Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone (born May 26, 1971) is an American actor, animator, screenwriter, television director, producer, comedian, and singer. He is best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Trey Parker, as well as co-writing the 2011 multi-Tony Award winning musical The Book of Mormon.

Stone and Parker launched their largely collaborative careers in 1989 when they met at the University of Colorado. In 1992 they made a holiday short titled Jesus vs. Frosty which would eventually become South Park. Their first success came from Alferd Packer: The Musical, subsequently distributed as Cannibal! The Musical. From there he made another short title Jesus vs. Santa, leading him and college friend Parker to create South Park, which has been airing for over fifteen years. He has four Emmy Awards for his role in South Park, winning for both "Outstanding Programming More Than One Hour" and "Outstanding Programming Less Than One Hour".

Early life[]

Matthew Richard Stone was born on May 26, 1971 in Houston, Texas, to economics professor/textbook author Gerald Whitney Stone, Jr. and Sheila Lois Belasco. The South Park characters Gerald and Sheila Broflovski were named after them. Stone and his younger sister Rachel were raised in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, where both attended Heritage High School.[1] He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and was their first student to double major in film and mathematics.[2]

Career[]

File:Trey Parker Matt Stone 2007.jpg

Stone (right) with Trey Parker, January 20, 2007

South Park[]

In 1992, Stone and Parker created the short film Jesus vs. Frosty.[3] It included four boys, two resembling Stan Marsh and Kyle Broflovski, one called Kenny who looked like Cartman, and a fourth unnamed boy who looked like Kenny. Both Jesus 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. After the duo released Cannibal! The Musical, they were asked to make another animated short.[4][5] They came down to two ideas: one a sequel to Jesus vs. Frosty, and one about a character that would later be recurring in South Park, Mr. Hankey.[6] 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.[7] Stone and Parker produced 13 episodes for season 1.[8] The video landed in the hands of Comedy Central's Doug Herzog. "It literally was the funniest thing I'd ever seen," he said in a 2006 interview. "We said, 'Develop a show.' So they went off and developed the show."[9] Stone and Parker produced 13 episodes for season 1. South Park is currently still under contract to produce new episodes through 2016.[10]

In June 1999, Stone and Parker made South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, which gave the series prominence.[11] The film's music was nominated for an Academy Award, but lost to "You'll Be In My Heart" from Tarzan.

As of 2007, Parker is credited with directing and writing the vast majority of South Park episodes, and voicing most of the regular and guest characters, leading fans to question Stone's involvement in the creative process. According to a 2007 Maclean's article by Jaime J. Weinman, however, Stone handles the business side of the series as its production coordinator, responsible for assembling its various elements, and making sure they arrive on time and under budget. Stone commented to IGN, "I am not a good director, I know that. I am not a very good actor either, and I know it, but it is good to know that." As Parker is "self-admittedly anti-social" and non-confrontational, Stone is the one who handles conflicts with the network over issues of censorship and contracts, grants interviews with the media in the wake of controversial episodes, and acts as a go-between between Parker and others when Parker says provocative things. Weinman compared Parker and Stone's relationship to that of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, in which the diplomatic Seinfeld would defuse tension created by more volatile David, and suggested that Parker would not be able to get away with saying offensive things without Stone.[12] On September 25, 2013, South Park's seventeenth season premiered.[13]

Voices on South Park[]

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Other projects[]

In September 1997, Stone and Parker released Orgazmo, a movie rated NC-17. In July 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 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.[14] 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, which was cancelled after one season. In 2004, they made a film, titled Team America: World Police.[15][16] The film was not considered a box-office success, grossing 51 million dollars in theaters, despite largely positive reviews.[17]

Stone claimed that he and Parker were on acid at the time of the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000, where they wore dresses popularized by Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow at previous awards shows.[18]

On September 28, 2007, Parker and Stone acquired the US rights to the Canadian-made Kenny vs. Spenny, which premiered November 14, 2007 on Comedy Central with ten old and new episodes.[19]

In April 2010, Stone and Parker received a "warning" for allegedly representing the Muslim prophet Muhammad in a bear costume: "We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Dutch director Theo van Gogh for airing this show."[20] It was revealed in the next episode that the person in the bear costume was actually Santa Claus and not Muhammad; the "real" Muhammad was supposed to appear as well, but Comedy Central had him censored out against Stone and Parker's wishes.

On January 14, 2013, Stone and Parker announced that they would be starting a film production company called Important Studios. Inspired by the production work of Lucasfilm and DreamWorks, Stone and Parker considered founding the studio for approximately two years before committing. The initial financial assets of the studio are valued at $300 million, with the majority of the money originating from South Park, The Book of Mormon, while $60 million is from an investment from Joseph Ravitch of the Raine Group, giving him a 20 percent minority stock.[21]

On January 24, 2013, Stone and Parker announced that they would be producing a fishing show. The show will star Dean Ween and Les Claypool and that the show will "fuse sportfishing with music and comedy." The premise of the show is that Deaner and Claypool will bring celebrity guests out on the water for fishing trips. Other than mentioning it will be a "cable" show, there's no word yet on what station the show to air on.[22]

Stone is also a member of the band DVDA with Trey Parker.[23]

Theater productions[]

Parker and Stone collaborated with Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez on the religious comedy musical The Book of Mormon, which stars Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad as two young Mormon missionaries whose lives are juxtaposed with the story of Mormonism founder Joseph Smith.[24] It has been produced by Scott Rudin and Anne Garefino. It opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on March 24, 2011, following previews from February 24, 2011.[25] The Book of Mormon won nine Tony Awards in 2011, including that of Best Direction of a Musical for Parker and co-director Casey Nicholaw.[26] As of March 2013, Stone and Parker are developing a movie version of the musical.[27]

Personal life[]

In 2008, Stone married Angela Howard. Together they have two children.[28][29]

Regarding religion, Stone describes himself as "ethnically Jewish", on account of his mother's religion, but grew up agnostic, and has no other adherence to the religion.[30][31] He identifies himself as an atheist.[32][33]

Discography[]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Jesus vs. Frosty Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick (voice) Student film
1994 Cannibal! The Musical James Humphrey, "Hang the Bastard" woman Student film
1995 Jesus vs. Santa Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick (voice) Short film
Florida Film Festival Award for Best Short
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
Your Studio and You Man Toasting Drinks at Mca Outdoors Bar Short film
1996 For Goodness Sake II Unnamed Applicant Short film
1997 Orgazmo Dave the Lighting Guy Writer, Producer
1998 BASEketball Doug Remer
1999 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Butters Stotch, Various voices Writer, Producer
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Score
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music
MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Sequence for "Uncle Fucka"
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film
Nominated—Annie Award for Best Animated Feature
Nominated—Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production
Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Original Song for "Mountain Town"
Terror Firmer Hermaphrodites Uncredited
2002 Bowling for Columbine Himself Documentary
Run Ronnie Run Himself Cameo
2004 Team America: World Police Chris, Various voices Writer, Producer
Empire Award for Best Comedy
Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film
Nominated—People's Choice for Favorite Animated Movie
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Comedy: Animated/Computer Generated
2005 The Aristocrats Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick (voice) Cameo
2006 This Film Is Not Yet Rated Himself Documentary
2007 Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo Taper Guys Cameo
2010 Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Himself Documentary

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Time Warped Ichabod Jones, Carlos, Rom Co-creator, Writer, Executive Producer (un-aired television series)
1997–present South Park Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Butters Stotch, Various voices Co-creator, Writer, Director, Executive Producer
AFI Award for TV Program of the Year (2007)
American Comedy Award for Funniest Television Series - Animated (2001)
Annie Award for Writing in an Animated Television or Other Broadcast Venue Production for "Jewpacabra" (2013)
CableACE Award for Animated Programming Special or Series (1997)
Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy (2012)[34]
GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual TV Episode for "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" (1998)
Maverick Filmmakers Award (2003)
Peabody Award (2006)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Best Friends Forever" (2005)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Make Love, Not Warcraft" (2007)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Imaginationland" (2008)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Margaritaville" (2009)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Raising the Bar" (2013)
Producers Guild of America Award for Most Promising Producer in Television (1998)
The Comedy Award for Animated Comedy Series (2011)
Nominated—Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Primetime or Late Night Television Program (1998)
Nominated—Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production for "Raising the Bar" (2013)
Nominated—People's Choice for Favorite Animated Comedy (2009)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" (1998)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Chinpokomon" (2000)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants" (2002)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "It's Christmas in Canada" (2004)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Trapped in the Closet" (2006)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "200"/"201" (2010)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for "Crack Baby Athletic Association" (2011)
Nominated—Satellite Award for Outstanding DVD Release of a Television Show (2005)
Nominated—TCA Award for Program of the Year (1998)
Nominated—TCA Award for Outstanding New Program (1998)
Nominated—Teen Choice Award Choice TV: Comedy Series (1999)
Nominated—Teen Choice Award Choice Animated Series (2006)
Nominated—Teen Choice Award Choice Animated Series (2007)
Nominated—Teen Choice Award Choice Animated Series (2008)
Nominated—Teen Choice Award Choice Animated Series (2009)
Nominated—Teen Choice Award Choice Animated Series (2010)
Nominated—The Comedy Award for Animated Comedy Series (2012)
Nominated—TV Land Award for TV Moment That Became Headline News (2007)
1998 50th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Himself (co-host) TV Special
1999 51st Primetime Emmy Awards Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick (voice) TV Special
Python Night – 30 Years of Monty Python Himself, Kyle Broflovski (voice) TV Special
2000 2000 MTV Movie Awards Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Various voices TV Special
2001 Princess Tommy (voice) 2 episodes; Co-creator, Director, Writer, Producer
That's My Bush! Mr. Harris 8 episodes; Co-creator, Writer, Executive producer
2007–2008 Kenny vs. Spenny Template:N/A 10 episodes; Executive Producer
Nominated—Gemini Award for Best Comedy Program or Series
2009 How's Your News? Template:N/A 6 episodes; Executive Producer
2011 6 Days to Air Himself TV Special
2012 2012 Spike Video Game Awards Bilbo Baggins (voice) TV Special
TBA Untitled Fishing Show Template:N/A Executive Producer

Theater[]

Year Title Notes
2011 The Book of Mormon Writer, Producer, Music Co-Composer
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out[35]
Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album[36]
Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical[37]
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical[38]
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score
Tony Award for Best Musical[39]
Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
Tony Award for Best Original Score
Whatsonstage.com Award for Best New Musical[40][41]
Nominated—Evening Standard Award for Best Musical[42]
Nominated—Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music

Video games[]

Year Title Role Notes
1998 South Park Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Various voices
1999 South Park: Chef's Luv Shack Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Various voices
South Park Rally Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Various voices
2009 South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play! Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Butters Stotch, Various voices Spike Video Game Award for Best Game Based On A Movie/TV Show
2012 South Park: Tenorman's Revenge Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Butters Stotch, Various voices
2014 South Park: The Stick of Truth Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, Butters Stotch, Various voices Writer
Game Critics Award for Best Role Playing Game
Nominated—Spike Video Game Award for Most Anticipated Game
Nominated—VGX Award for Most Anticipated Game

Music videos[]

Year Title Artist Notes
2000 "Even If You Don't" Ween Co-Director

References[]

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  4. VH1 Press | BRIAN GRADEN's Bio
  5. Brian Graden Biography - life, family, childhood, children, death, history, wife, school, young
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  8. South Park
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  12. Weinman, Jaime J. (April 23, 2007). "South Park has a silent partner". Maclean's
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  24. Itzkoff, Dave (April 14, 2010). "'South Park' and 'Avenue Q' Guys Bringing 'Book of Mormon' to Broadway". The New York Times.
  25. Brantley, Ben (March 24, 2001). "Missionary Men With Confidence in Sunshine". Theater Reviews. The New York Times.
  26. Kennedy, Mark (June 12, 2011). "Advertise with usReport this ad 'Book of Mormon' musical wins 9 Tony Awards". Deseret News/Associated Press.
  27. Eames, Tom (March 22, 2013). "'South Park's Trey Parker to become a dad for first time". Digital Spy.
  28. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. Swanson, Carl. "Latter-Day Saints". New York Magazine. March 6, 2011, Page 2
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  32. Nightline, ABC News, March 25, 2011, Quote: "I am an atheist, I live my life like I'm an atheist."
  33. Swanson, Carl (March 11, 2011). "Trey Parker and Matt Stone Talk About Why The Book of Mormon Isn’t Actually Offensive, and the Future of South Park". Vulture/New York Magazine.
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  38. "WAR HORSE, MORMON, THE KID, Benanti, Gad Among 2011 Outer Critics Circle Winners!" broadwayworld.com, May 16, 2011
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External links[]

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