Profile: Donald Glover
A big talent returns to the small screen
When the term “renaissance man” came into existence, it’s doubtful that comedy writing, acting and rapping were the skills that such a person was thought to have. But today these specialties, seldom mastered individually—let alone altogether—represent a holy trinity that only Donald Glover seems to have perfected. His multiple talents didn’t present themselves all at once, however. They manifested over time, making for a one-of-a-kind career that continues to rise and broaden all at once.
While studying dramatic writing at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Glover formed Derrick Comedy, a sketch-comedy group that soon became an internet sensation. By the age of just 21, his efforts caught the attention of Tina Fey, and he was hired to write for the first season of 30 Rock before he even graduated. “I literally had my RA pager go off the first day of work,” he told New York Magazine in 2009.
But one blossoming career wasn’t enough for Glover. After a few years at 30 Rock, he decided to employ his talents in front of the camera. So he nabbed a major role in Doug Harmon’s cult hit, Community, and premiered his stand-up special on Comedy Central a year later.
Yet even then, with credits as a writer, actor and stand-up comedian, Glover still didn’t feel creatively satiated. Following the release of several mix tapes, Glover, bearing the stage name Childish Gambino, dropped Camp (2011), his first studio album, to general acclaim. His sophomore album, Because the Internet (2013), faired even better—garnering top sales and a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
That’s when things got really interesting.
Glover returned to television this year with Atlanta, a series that is by far the greatest expression of all of his talents combined. Aside from allowing him to channel his love of hip-hop, performing and writing, Atlanta tells a deeply funny and deeply sad story of young African-Americans nobly trying to make it their way, without changing or apologizing for who they are. And while we have no doubt Glover will have something new up his sleeve in the coming years—he’s already been cast as Lando Calrissian in the new Han Solo movie—we’re glad he has finally found his home in Atlanta.
