Background
Stough was born in Evergreen, Colorado, and has characterized his upbringing as "well-rounded, sheltered and I did what I was told." He met Trey Parker at age 13. The two later acted in school musicals and made short films together at Evergreen High School.
Education
Born in Evergreen, Colorado, Stough attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and graduated in 1995 with a degree in film.
Career
He is best known as the animation director and a producer on the television series South Park. He was the inspiration for the character of Butters Stotch on South Park. Stough grew up interested in animation and aspired to be a "great Disney animator", but was not the best at drawing.
He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder (University of California, Berkeley), where he initially studied in their art department.
Parker convinced him to instead join their film department, as he would be able to make animated films rather than spend his time perfecting his drawing. He had an internship with Jim Henson Productions in college.
He graduated with a film degree in 1995, and subsequently worked with Parker and Matt Stone on the short film The Spirit of Christmas (1995). The film grew popular and resulted in a television deal with Comedy Central to produce an animated series based on it, which became South Park.
Stough was the first crew member hired on South Park, which premiered in 1997, and remains the show"s producer and animation director to this day.
The character of Butters in South Park is based on Stough and his sheltered upbringing. He noted in his commencement address for University of California, Berkeley in 2014 "The nickname "Butters" stems from little brother, little buddy and innocent wholesome person." Stough has also provided the un-muffled voice of Kenny McCormick in three episodes of the show: "The Jeffersons", "Lice Capades" and "Mysterion Rises". He did not however provide the main voice of the character"s alter-ego Mysterion.