South Park

Isaac Hayes is dead.  The songwriter and musical pioneer was 65.  He was found collapsed next to a treadmill by his wife, and later declared dead at a hospital near his home in Tennessee.  The cause of death is still unknown.  Hayes was a prolific songwriter and performer, and began his career as a member of the 1960's group Sam and Dave, who were known for their hit “Soul Man.”  In the 1970's, Hayes was at the forefront of the Disco movement.  Hayes' wrote and recorded the “Theme from Shaft” in 1971, and was rewarded with two Grammys and one Oscar (for Best Original Song).  Hayes most recently found acclaim as voice actor on South Park, where he voiced the character of Chef for much of the series.  Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Isaac Hayes has had health issues in the last couple years.  In 2006, Hayes suffered a stroke, though the reports on its severity were conflicting.  Hayes had just finished up working on a movie called Soul Men, which co-stars Samuel L. Jackson and the also recently deceased Bernie Mac.  Hayes was reportedly readying to begin work on a new album for Stax Records, the studio he helped build.

Hayes has been in the midst of some controversy in recent years.  Isaac had been a high-profile member of the Church of Scientology, and resigned from his job as a voice actor on South Park soon after the show aired their controversial (but critically well-received) “Trapped in the Closet” episode which mocked Scientology, Tom Cruise and R. Kelly.  The official word is that Hayes resigned because he couldn't handle South Park's view on Scientology, though there have been rumors that Hayes was forced to resign by the Scientology powers-that-be. 

Isaac Hayes, dead at 65.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of BMI)