Donald Glover Bio
Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (born September 25, 1983) is an American musician, actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He gained fame for portraying Troy Barnes on the NBC sitcom Community and created the FX series Atlanta, which won him multiple awards including two Primetime Emmys. Glover has also experienced success in music under the stage name Childish Gambino, winning several Grammy Awards for his work, particularly for the hit single ‘This Is America’.
Early Life and Background
Donald McKinley Glover Jr. was born at Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, California, on September 25, 1983. He grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where his father was stationed. His mother, Beverly, is a retired daycare provider, and his father, Donald Glover Sr., was a postal worker. Glover was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but is no longer religious. He has a younger brother, Stephen, who later became a writer and producer collaborating with him, and a sister named Brianne. Glover attended Stephenson High School and DeKalb School of the Arts, where he was voted ‘Most Likely to Write for The Simpsons’ in his high school yearbook. In 2006, he graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in dramatic writing. While at Tisch, he self-produced the independent mixtape The Younger I Get, which has not been released and has been disowned by Glover for being what he calls the ‘too-raw ramblings of…a decrepit Drake’. He began DJing and producing electronic music under the moniker MC DJ (later as mcDJ), remixing Sufjan Stevens’ album Illinois.
Path to Hollywood
In 2006, Glover caught the attention of producer David Miner after sending writing samples, including a spec script for The Simpsons. Miner and Tina Fey were impressed by Glover’s work and hired him to become a writer for the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. Glover was shocked when he was hired, as he didn’t think he belonged in a room of seasoned executives. He wrote for 30 Rock from 2006 to 2009, during which he also made occasional appearances. Glover starred as former high school jock Troy Barnes on Dan Harmon’s NBC sitcom Community, which premiered in September 2009. He did not return as a full-time cast member for the show’s fifth season, appearing only in the first five episodes. Despite speculation that Glover was leaving to pursue his music career, he later revealed that his reasons were more personal, citing a need for projects that offered him more independence.
Donald Glover Career
Early Career (2004–2010)
Glover’s career began in 2004 when he joined the comedy group Derrick Comedy, which gained popularity through their sketches on YouTube. In 2009, they premiered their feature-length film, Mystery Team, at the Sundance Film Festival. Glover’s work on 30 Rock earned him a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Series in 2008. In May 2010, a fan suggested Glover for the role of Spider-Man/Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man film, which sparked a viral response on Twitter. Although he did not audition for the role, he later voiced the character Miles Morales in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man.
Breakthrough (2016–2022)
Glover’s major breakthrough came with the creation of the FX series Atlanta, which premiered on September 6, 2016. He starred as Earnest ‘Earn’ Marks, a Princeton dropout managing his rapper cousin in the Atlanta hip hop scene. For his work on the show, Glover earned multiple accolades including two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards, making history as the first black person to win an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Glover also appeared in several films, including The Martian (2015) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). In 2018, he portrayed Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story and provided the voice of adult Simba in The Lion King (2019).
Notable Works and Milestones
Glover’s signature work includes the series Atlanta, which received critical acclaim and numerous awards. He also gained recognition in the music industry as Childish Gambino, particularly for his single ‘This Is America’, which won four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year.
Donald Glover Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Donald Glover has received numerous nominations for his work in television and music, including nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Grammy Awards.
Donald Glover Awards Won
Donald Glover has won several prestigious awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, five Grammy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards, recognizing his contributions to television and music.
Donald Glover Family
Donald Glover is married to Michelle White, with whom he has three sons born in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Glover has a brother, Stephen, who is also involved in the entertainment industry.
Personal Life
Glover is known for being a private person and rarely shares details about his personal life. He began dating Michelle White in 2015 and they married in January 2024. Glover has implied that he is spiritual but not religious. He endorsed 2020 Democratic candidate Andrew Yang and joined his campaign as a creative consultant. Glover has also experienced health issues, including a stroke in 2024, which led to surgery for a heart condition.
