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Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was the voice actor of Chef from 1997 until he quit from South Park because of the controversy surrounding "Trapped in the Closet" in 2005. Even without the controversy, his role on the show became less prominent due to the change in style (the boys learning things without the Chef character's involvement) and Hayes own deteriorating health. It has been hypothesized by his family that the Church wrote his resignation for him.

Hayes also made an appearance as himself in the mockumentary, Chef Aid: Behind the Menu, in which he did not know who Chef was.

In a 2007 interview, Hayes mentioned he quit because "They (Trey and Matt) didn't pay me enough... they weren't that nice."

On August 10, 2008, Hayes passed away at the age of 65 due to complications caused by a stroke and was commemorated by South Park Studios.