Donald McKinley Glover Jr., born on September 25, 1983, is a multifaceted American talent recognized by his stage name Childish Gambino. He excels as an actor, comedian, singer, rapper, writer, director, and producer. Glover’s journey began with Derrick Comedy during his time at New York University. Notably, Tina Fey saw his potential and hired him at a mere 23 years old to contribute his writing skills to the renowned NBC sitcom 30 Rock.
Subsequently, he gained prominence through his portrayal of college student Troy Barnes in the NBC sitcom Community from 2009 to 2014. From 2016 to 2022, Glover’s creative prowess shone in the FX series Atlanta, a project of his own creation, where he also assumed occasional directorial roles. His contributions to Atlanta earned him significant recognition, encompassing two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
Glover’s cinematic ventures have been equally triumphant. Notable films he graced include the supernatural horror The Lazarus Effect (2015), the poignant comedy-drama Magic Mike XXL (2015), and the captivating science fiction piece The Martian (2015). Within the realm of superhero cinema, he embodied Aaron Davis / The Prowler in the acclaimed films Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), while his portrayal of Lando Calrissian left a lasting impact on the space western Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).
Additionally, his voice lent depth to the character of adult Simba in The Lion King (2019). Glover’s cinematic influence extends to filmmaking; he took center stage in and contributed to the production of the short film Guava Island (2019). His latest venture in 2023 involves co-creating the comedic thriller television series Swarm. Glover’s influence even extends to the world of comics, as he played a pivotal role in inspiring the creation of the Marvel Comics superhero Miles Morales / Spider-Man, a role he subsequently voiced in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man.
After independently releasing albums and mixtapes, Glover inked a deal with Glassnote Records in 2011. This partnership bore fruit with the release of his debut studio album, Camp, later that year. Building on this foundation, he unveiled his second album, Because the Internet, in 2013.
A defining moment came with Glover’s third album, “Awaken, My Love!” (2016), which spawned the hit single “Redbone,” peaking at an impressive twelfth position on the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement culminated in his first Grammy Award. In 2018, Glover achieved chart-topping success with “This Is America,” a track that secured four Grammy Awards, notably for Song and Record of the Year. The year 2020 saw the release of Glover’s fourth album, 3.15.20, marking another milestone in his artistic journey.