In Ratatouille, the villainous chef who runs Gusteau’s kitchen after the original owner’s death is Chef Skinner.
Skinner is Gusteau’s former sous-chef and becomes the restaurant’s owner and head chef after the celebrated Auguste Gusteau dies. He is voiced by Ian Holm and serves as the film’s principal human antagonist. Suspicious, ambitious, and protective of his control, Skinner wants to preserve the restaurant’s commercial success rather than follow Gusteau’s idealistic belief that “Anyone can cook.”
Skinner initially sees Alfredo Linguini as an incompetent garbage boy, but Linguini’s mysterious success in the kitchen forces him to investigate. He eventually discovers that Linguini is Gusteau’s son and therefore has a legitimate claim to the restaurant. Skinner then tries to exploit the discovery and maintain his own authority.
Horst is Skinner’s sous-chef, Linguini is the garbage boy who becomes a cook, and Anton Ego is the intimidating food critic—not the kitchen’s villainous chef.