Donald Glover facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donald Glover
Glover at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (1983-09-25) September 25, 1983 (age 41) Edwards, California, U.S.
Other names	Childish Gambino mcDJ
Education	New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor comedian musician writer producer director
Years active	2004–present
Works	Discography filmography
Spouse(s)	Michelle White ​ (m. 2024)​
Children	3
Relatives	Stephen Glover (brother)
Awards	Full list
Comedy career
Medium	Stand-up television film music
Genres	Observational comedy surreal humor black comedy musical comedy sketch comedy satire
Subject(s)	African-American culture current events everyday life pop culture race relations existentialism
Musical career
Origin	Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop funk R&B soul psychedelia indie pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	mcDJ Wolf+Rothstein Liberator RCA Glassnote
Signature

Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (born September 25, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker. He is also known by his music name, Childish Gambino.

Glover started his career as a writer for the TV show 30 Rock when he was 23. He became well-known for playing Troy Barnes in the TV show Community. Later, he created and starred in the FX series Atlanta. For his work on Atlanta, he won several awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

He has also appeared in many movies. These include Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), where he played Aaron Davis, and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), where he played Lando Calrissian. He voiced adult Simba in The Lion King (2019). In 2024, he created and starred in the Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

As Childish Gambino, he has released several successful albums. His song "3005" was his first to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His 2018 song "This Is America" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It won four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Early Life and Education

Donald McKinley Glover Jr. was born on September 25, 1983, in Edwards, California. He grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His mother, Beverly, was a retired daycare provider, and his father, Donald Sr., was a postal worker. His parents also cared for foster children for 14 years. His younger brother, Stephen, is also a writer and producer who works with him.

Donald went to Avondale High School and DeKalb School of the Arts. In 2006, he graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in dramatic writing. While in college, he started DJing and making electronic music under the name mcDJ.

Career Highlights

Starting in Writing and Acting

Early Success and Community

In 2006, Donald Glover got the attention of producer David Miner. Miner and Tina Fey were impressed by his writing and hired him to write for the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. Glover worked on 30 Rock from 2006 to 2009 and also appeared in a few episodes. He and his co-writers won a Writers Guild of America Award in 2008.

In 2008, he tried out for the role of Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live but didn't get the part. While at NYU, Glover was part of a comedy group called Derrick Comedy. They made sketches for YouTube and created a movie called Mystery Team, which came out in 2009.

Glover at a panel for Community at PaleyFest 2010

Glover starred as Troy Barnes in the NBC sitcom Community, which started in 2009. He left the show during its fifth season for personal reasons, wanting to work on projects that gave him more freedom.

In 2010, fans started a campaign for Glover to play Spider-Man in a new movie. Even Spider-Man creator Stan Lee supported the idea. Glover didn't get the role, but he later voiced the Miles Morales version of Spider-Man in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man.

Atlanta and Film Roles

In 2013, Glover signed a deal with FX to create a show called Atlanta. He would star in it, write it, and help produce it. The show premiered in 2016 and was very popular with critics. In Atlanta, Glover plays Earnest "Earn" Marks, who manages his rapper cousin in the Atlanta hip hop scene.

For Atlanta, Glover won many awards. He became the first black person to win an Emmy for directing a comedy series. Because of the show's success, FX signed a special deal with Glover to create more shows.

Glover appeared in three films in 2015. He was in the horror film The Lazarus Effect, the comedy-drama Magic Mike XXL, and the science fiction film The Martian. In The Martian, he played a scientist who helps rescue an astronaut stuck on Mars.

In 2017, Time magazine named Glover one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World". That same year, he played Aaron Davis in the superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming. He later made a brief appearance as this character in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

Star Wars, Lion King, and Recent Projects

Glover (left) promoting Solo with Phoebe Waller-Bridge in 2018

While filming Atlanta's second season, Glover played a young Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). His performance was highly praised by critics.

In 2019, Glover starred in and produced the short film Guava Island, filmed in Cuba. He played a musician who wants to hold a music festival.

Glover also voiced adult Simba in the 2019 remake of The Lion King. He sang on the film's soundtrack and on a special album inspired by the movie. The film made over $1.6 billion worldwide.

In 2021, Glover signed a big deal with Amazon Studios. He produced and starred in a TV show remake of the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which premiered in 2024. He also created the TV series Swarm (2023). In 2023, it was confirmed that Glover would return for the Community movie.

Music Career (as Childish Gambino)

Early Music and First Albums

Glover's music name, Childish Gambino, came from a Wu-Tang Clan name generator. He released his first independent mixtape, Sick Boi, in 2008. He released several more mixtapes, including Poindexter (2009) and Culdesac (2010).

Glover performing as Childish Gambino at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in 2010

In 2011, he released his first extended play (EP) called EP. He then signed with Glassnote Records. His first studio album, Camp, was released in November 2011. It included the songs "Bonfire" and "Heartbeat". Camp was well-received by critics.

Because the Internet and Awaken, My Love!

Glover performing as Childish Gambino at South by Southwest in 2014

His second studio album, Because the Internet, came out in December 2013. It featured the popular single "3005", which became his first song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. To promote the album, Glover also released a short film called Clapping for the Wrong Reasons.

In 2014, he released a mixtape called STN MTN and an EP called Kauai. Because the Internet was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album.

In 2016, Glover released his third studio album, "Awaken, My Love!". This album was different from his previous work, focusing more on singing and drawing influences from funk and R&B music. It included the hit song "Redbone", which reached number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100. "Redbone" won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

"This Is America" and Recent Music

In June 2017, Glover announced he planned to stop using the Childish Gambino name after his next album. He felt his music career was no longer "necessary" and wanted to try new things.

In May 2018, he released the single "This Is America". The song debuted at number one in the United States. It won four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, making it the first hip hop song to win in those categories.

In July 2018, he released the Summer Pack EP, which included "Summertime Magic" and "Feels Like Summer". He also started his "This Is America Tour," which he said would be his last.

On March 15, 2020, Glover surprised fans by streaming his fourth album, 3.15.20, on his website. It was officially released a week later and was well-received by critics.

In April 2024, Glover announced that he would re-release 3.15.20 as a "finished" album called Atavista. He also announced a new album, Bando Stone & the New World, which would be the final Childish Gambino album and serve as a soundtrack for an upcoming film. He released Atavista in May 2024 and started "The New World Tour" in support of both albums.

Influences

Donald Glover has said he is influenced by many different artists, including LCD Soundsystem and Ghostface Killah. He also mentioned hip-hop groups like Outkast and Migos, and the funk band Funkadelic.

Other musicians, like rapper Vince Staples, have praised Glover for always trying something new and different in his work.

Personal Life

Donald Glover started dating Michelle White in 2015, and they got married in January 2024. They have three sons, born in 2016, 2018, and 2020.

Glover is known for being a private person. He doesn't often post on social media or do interviews unless it's to promote his projects.

Discography

• Camp (2011)
• Because the Internet (2013)
• "Awaken, My Love!" (2016)
• 3.15.20 (2020)
  • Reissued as Atavista (2024)
• Bando Stone & the New World (2024)

Tours

Headlining

• Deep Web Tour (2014)
• This Is America Tour (2018–2019)
• The New World Tour (2024–2025)

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Donald Glover para niños