What is the real name of the character known as 'The Coon'?

The character known as “The Coon” is Eric Cartman. In South Park, Cartman adopts the Coon persona as a self-styled superhero, complete with a mask, cape, and an exaggerated belief in his own importance.

The Coon first appears as part of Cartman’s attempt to fight crime and gain recognition. His superhero identity becomes more prominent in the recurring Coon and Friends storyline, where Cartman clashes with other costumed characters and tries to control the group. His behavior turns the superhero premise into a satire of egotism, rivalry, and comic-book power struggles.

The nickname can be confusing because “The Coon” is treated as an alter ego rather than Cartman’s ordinary name. The character’s real identity is not a separate student: it is Eric Theodore Cartman, one of South Park Elementary’s main fourth-graders.

Cartman’s superhero ambitions also fit his broader pattern of adopting elaborate identities, schemes, and costumes. Unlike Butters, Kyle, or Stan, he is the boy underneath the Coon mask and the driving force behind the persona.