View source for Donald Glover

{{Short description|American actor and musician (born 1983)}}
{{redirect2|Don Glover|Donny Glover|the Arkansas politician|Don Edward Glover|the similarly named actor|Danny Glover}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Donald Glover
| image              = Donald Glover TIFF 2015.jpg
| caption            = Glover in 2015
| alias              = {{flatlist|
* Childish Gambino
* mcDJ
}}
| birth_name         = Donald McKinley Glover Jr.
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1983|9|25}}
| birth_place        = [[Edwards, California]], U.S.
| education          = [[New York University]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* comedian
* musician
* writer
* producer
* director
}}
| works              = {{flatlist|
* [[Childish Gambino discography|Discography]]
* [[#Filmography|filmography]]
}}
| years_active       = 2004–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Michelle White|2024}}
| children           = 3
| relatives          = [[Stephen Glover (screenwriter)|Stephen Glover]] (brother)
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Donald Glover|Full list]]
| module             = {{Infobox comedian|embed=yes
| medium             = {{flatlist|
* Stand-up
* television
* film
* music
}}
| genre              = {{flatlist|
* [[Observational comedy]]
* {{nowrap|[[surreal humor]]}}
* [[black comedy]]
* [[Comedy music|musical comedy]]
* {{nowrap|[[sketch comedy]]}}
* [[satire]]
}}
| subject   = {{flatlist|
* [[African-American culture]]
* [[current events]]
* [[everyday life]]
* [[popular culture|pop culture]]
* [[racism]]
* {{nowrap|[[race relations]]}}
* [[existentialism]]
* [[human sexuality]]
}}
| module       = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed        = yes
| origin       = [[Stone Mountain, Georgia]], U.S.
| genre        = {{flatlist|
* [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
* [[funk]]
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
* [[Psychedelic music|psychedelia]]
* [[indie pop]]
* [[Dark pop]]
}}
| instrument   = Vocals
| label        = {{flatlist|
* mcDJ
* Wolf+Rothstein
* [[Liberation Music|Liberator]]
* [[RCA Records|RCA]] 
* [[Glassnote Records|Glassnote]] 
}}
| website      = {{URL|donaldgloverpresents.com}}
}}
}}
| signature          = Donald Glover sig.svg
}}

'''Donald McKinley Glover Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|'|g|l|ʌ|v|ər}}; born September 25, 1983), also known by his [[Stage name|musical stage name]] '''Childish Gambino''' ({{IPAc-en|g|æ|m|'|b|iː|n|oʊ}}), is an American actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker. While he studied at [[New York University]] and after working in [[Derrick Comedy]], a comedy group, Glover was hired by [[Tina Fey]] to write for the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[30 Rock]]'' at age 23. He gained fame for portraying college student [[Troy Barnes]] on the NBC sitcom ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]'' from 2009 to 2014. From 2016 to 2022, he starred in the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] series ''[[Atlanta (TV series)|Atlanta]]'', which he created and occasionally directed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/06/with-atlanta-donald-glover-wants-to-make-people-feel-black.html |title=Donald Glover stars in a new TV show about rappers in the Atlanta scene |date=September 6, 2016 |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |access-date=September 7, 2016 |last1=Wilstein |first1=Matt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907142137/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/06/with-atlanta-donald-glover-wants-to-make-people-feel-black.html |archive-date=September 7, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> For his work on ''Atlanta'', he won various accolades including two [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/donald-glover|title=Donald Glover {{!}} Television Academy|work=Television Academy|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920050248/http://www.emmys.com/bios/donald-glover|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as two [[Golden Globe Award]]s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2017/01/08/donald-glover-30-under-30-alum-wins-big-for-atlanta-at-the-global-globes/#4bceb3587b6c|title=Donald Glover Wins Big For 'Atlanta' At The Golden Globes|last=Berg|first=Madeline| work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045742/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2017/01/08/donald-glover-30-under-30-alum-wins-big-for-atlanta-at-the-global-globes/#4bceb3587b6c|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Glover has appeared in several films, including the supernatural horror ''[[The Lazarus Effect (2015 film)|The Lazarus Effect]]'' (2015), the comedy-drama ''[[Magic Mike XXL]]'' (2015), and the science fiction film ''[[The Martian (film)|The Martian]]'' (2015). He played [[Prowler (Marvel Comics)|Aaron Davis]] in the superhero film ''[[Spider-Man: Homecoming]]'' (2017), as well as [[Lando Calrissian]] in the space western ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Glover cast as young Lando Calrissian in upcoming Han Solo Star Wars stand-alone film|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/donald-glover-cast-as-young-lando-calrissian-in-upcoming-han-solo-star-wars-stand-alone-film|work=[[Star Wars]]|access-date=October 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207060734/http://www.starwars.com/news/donald-glover-cast-as-young-lando-calrissian-in-upcoming-han-solo-star-wars-stand-alone-film|archive-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He provided the voice of adult [[Simba]] in ''[[The Lion King (2019 film)|The Lion King]]'' (2019),<ref name=USAToday /> and produced the short film ''[[Guava Island]]'' (2019), in which he starred.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moreau |first1=Jordan |title='Guava Island' Explained: Understanding Donald Glover and Rihanna's Surprise Film |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/guava-island-explained-donald-glover-rihanna-1203190025/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en |date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219160949/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/guava-island-explained-donald-glover-rihanna-1203190025/ |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><!--Note:He did not write the screenplay, he wrote the story along with several collaborators--> He co-created the comedy thriller television series ''[[Swarm (TV series)|Swarm]]'' (2023). Glover is also credited as a principal inspiration for the creation of the [[Marvel Comics]] superhero [[Miles Morales]] / [[Spider-Man]], whom Glover himself briefly voiced in the animated series ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Truitt |first=Brian |title=A TV comedy assured new Spidey's creator |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=August 2, 2011 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-08-02-new-spider-man-inside_n.htm |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080510/http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-08-02-new-spider-man-inside_n.htm |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Babos, John (August 6, 2011). [http://insidepulse.com/2011/08/06/marvels-new-ultimate-spider-man-miles-morales-a-significant-and-safe-leap-forward/ "Marvel's New Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales: A Significant And Safe Leap Forward"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901032150/http://insidepulse.com/2011/08/06/marvels-new-ultimate-spider-man-miles-morales-a-significant-and-safe-leap-forward/|date=September 1, 2011}}. Comics Nexus.</ref> In 2024, he created and starred in the [[Prime Video]] series ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024 TV series)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]''.

After a number of independently released projects, Glover signed with [[Glassnote Records]] in 2011,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/467589/childish-gambino-signs-with-glassnote-records|first=Megan|last=Wick| title=Childish Gambino Signs with Glassnote Records|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 6, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922225003/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/467589/childish-gambino-signs-with-glassnote-records|archive-date=September 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and released his debut studio album, ''[[Camp (album)|Camp]]'', in November of that year to critical and commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stover |first1=Michael |title=Why 5 years later Childish Gambino's 'Camp' is still a genius album|work=[[Blavity]]|url=https://blavity.com/why-5-years-later-childish-gambinos-camp-is-still-a-genius-album?category1=music |language=en |date=December 5, 2016}}</ref> His second album, ''[[Because the Internet]]'' (2013) was supported by the single "[[3005 (song)|3005]]", which became his first [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] entry.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|last1=Lynch|first1=Joe|title=Grammys 2015: And the Nominees Are…|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/6363565/grammys-2015-nominations-57th-annual|access-date=December 25, 2014|magazine=Billboard|date=December 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520064021/http://www.billboard.com/articles/6363565/grammys-2015-nominations-57th-annual|archive-date=May 20, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> His [[psychedelic funk]]-inspired 2016 single, "[[Redbone (song)|Redbone]]" peaked at number 12 on the chart, won a [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance]], and preceded the release of his third album ''[["Awaken, My Love!"]]'' (2016), which saw continued success.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/299122/childish-gambino/chart|title=Childish Gambino – Chart history |magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913182918/http://www.billboard.com/artist/299122/childish-gambino/chart|archive-date=September 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hodge |first1=Kyle |title=Childish Gambino Wins First-Ever Grammy With "Redbone" |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/childish-gambino-first-grammy-win/ |website=Highsnobiety |date=January 29, 2018}}</ref> Glover's 2018 single, "[[This Is America (song)|This Is America]]" debuted [[List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones#Number-one debuts|atop the ''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |title=Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' Blasts in at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8455823/childish-gambino-this-is-america-no-1-hot-100 |magazine=Billboard |date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515020510/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8455823/childish-gambino-this-is-america-no-1-hot-100 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and won in all of the categories for which it was nominated at the [[61st Annual Grammy Awards]]: [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance|Best Rap/Sung Performance]], and [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Music Video]]; it won a ''[[Guinness World Record]]'' as the first hip hop song to win in the former two categories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/561306-first-rap-song-to-win-the-grammy-award-for-song-of-the-year#:~:text=Donald%20Glover)%20won%20four%20awards,and%20Best%20Rap%2FSung%20Performance|title=First rap song to win the Grammy Award for Song of the Year|website=Guinessworldrecords.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/childish-gambino|title=Childish Gambino|date=November 19, 2019|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009121116/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/childish-gambino|archive-date=October 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> His fourth album, ''[[3.15.20]]'', was released in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/childish-gambino-officially-releases-new-album-31520-listen/|first1=Jazz|last1=Monroe| first2=Madison |last2=Bloom|date=March 22, 2020| title=Childish Gambino Officially Releases New Album 3.15.20: Listen|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|language=en|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> In 2024, he released ''[[Atavista]]'', a reworking of ''3.15.20'', and later his fifth album ''[[Bando Stone & the New World]].''

==Early life==
Donald McKinley Glover Jr.<ref name=AXS>{{cite web |url=https://www.axs.com/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-donald-glover-58110|title=5 things you didn't know about Donald Glover|last=Jules|first=Anna|work=AXS | publisher=[[AXS (company)|AXS]]|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=May 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801185705/https://www.axs.com/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-donald-glover-58110|archive-date=August 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> was born at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in [[Edwards, California]], on September 25, 1983;<ref name=BandS>{{cite web| url= http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/787/childish_gambino_growing_gains/| number= 1074| title= Childish Gambino: Growing Gains| website= BluesandSoul.com| first= Pete| last= Lewis| access-date= January 16, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120920111601/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/787/childish_gambino_growing_gains/| archive-date= September 20, 2012| url-status= live}}</ref> he grew up in [[Stone Mountain, Georgia]], where his father was stationed. His mother, Beverly (née Smith),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/donald_mckinley_glover_born_1983_15828061| title=The Birth of Donald McKinley Glover|work=[[California Birth Index]]|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808143256/https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/donald_mckinley_glover_born_1983_15828061|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> is a retired daycare provider and his father, Donald Glover Sr., was a [[United States Postal Service|postal worker]].<ref name=AXS /><ref name="villagevoice">{{cite news|title=Donald Glover Is More Talented Than You, The comedian/writer/rapper is on a collision course with stardom|first=Bill|last=Jensen|work=[[The Village Voice]]|date=April 13, 2011|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-04-13/news/donald-glover-is-more-talented-than-you/2/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006103634/http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-04-13/news/donald-glover-is-more-talented-than-you/2/|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> His parents were foster parents for 14 years. Glover was raised as a [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]] but is no longer religious.<ref name= BandS /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/20/donald-glover-on-spider-man-stripping-in-magic-mike-xxl-and-a-possible-community-return.html|title=Donald Glover on Spider-Man, Stripping in 'Magic Mike XXL,' and A Possible 'Community' Return|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=February 20, 2015|last1=Stern|first1=Marlow|access-date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220190711/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/20/donald-glover-on-spider-man-stripping-in-magic-mike-xxl-and-a-possible-community-return.html|archive-date=February 20, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> His younger brother, [[Stephen Glover (screenwriter)|Stephen]], later became a writer and producer who collaborates with him.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rose|first1=Lacey|title=How Donald Glover's Brother Went From Chemical Engineering to 'Atlanta's' Lead Writer|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-donald-glovers-brother-went-chemical-engineering-atlantas-lead-writer-1027637|access-date=April 8, 2018|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409105929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-donald-glovers-brother-went-chemical-engineering-atlantas-lead-writer-1027637|archive-date=April 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He has a sister named Brianne.<ref name="villagevoice" /> In December 2018, Glover disclosed that his father had died.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8490930/donald-glover-finishes-off-this-is-america-tour-by-honoring-late-father|title=Donald Glover Finishes This Is America Tour by Honoring Late Father, Playing Unreleased Music|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219043031/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8490930/donald-glover-finishes-off-this-is-america-tour-by-honoring-late-father|archive-date=December 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/video/2018/12/childish-gambino-death-father-concert/|title=Childish Gambino Announces Father's Death With Special Tribute|last=Mendez|first=Marisa|website=XXL Mag|date=December 18, 2018 |access-date=December 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219005338/http://www.xxlmag.com/video/2018/12/childish-gambino-death-father-concert/|archive-date=December 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Donald Glover attended [[Stephenson High School]] and [[DeKalb School of the Arts]]; he was voted "Most Likely to Write for ''[[The Simpsons]]''" in his high school yearbook.<ref name="clatl20160829">{{cite news| url=http://www.clatl.com/culture/article/20831904/donald-glovers-real-rap-on-atlanta | title=Donald Glover's real rap on 'Atlanta' | work=[[Creative Loafing]] | date=August 29, 2016 | access-date=August 29, 2016 | last=Carmichael|first= Rodney | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830163346/http://www.clatl.com/culture/article/20831904/donald-glovers-real-rap-on-atlanta | archive-date=August 30, 2016 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/comedys-new-wave-20110907/donald-glover-the-triple-threat-0225803|last1=Eells|first1=Josh|title=Donald Glover: The Triple Threat|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 7, 2011|access-date=July 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725220333/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/comedys-new-wave-20110907/donald-glover-the-triple-threat-0225803|archive-date=July 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, he graduated from the [[New York University Tisch School of the Arts]] with a degree in dramatic writing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Glover|url=https://www.nbc.com/community/credits/character/troy-barnes|work=[[NBC]]|access-date=October 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030233950/https://www.nbc.com/community/credits/character/troy-barnes|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 (musician)|Drake]]".<ref name="MenchComplex" /> He began [[Disc jockey|DJing]] and producing [[electronic music]] under the moniker MC DJ (later as mcDJ)<ref name="Childish Gambino releases surprise song This is America">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-44017879 |title=Childish Gambino releases surprise song This is America |date=May 6, 2018 |access-date=May 11, 2018 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509201008/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-44017879 |archive-date=May 9, 2018 |url-status=live |quote=The artist has said his next album will be his last under his musical stage name.}}</ref> remixing [[Sufjan Stevens]]' album ''[[Illinois (Sufjan Stevens album)|Illinois]]'' (2005).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilcox|first1=Dan|title=Guest DJ Project: Donald Glover|url=https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/guest-dj-project/donald-glover|publisher=[[KCRW]]| access-date=January 5, 2018|date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623004920/https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/guest-dj-project/donald-glover|archive-date=June 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Writing & acting career==
{{see also|List of awards and nominations received by Donald Glover}}

===2006–2010: ''Community'', and "Rising Comedy Star"===
In 2006, Glover caught the attention of producer [[David Miner (television producer)|David Miner]] after Glover sent writing samples including a [[spec script]] that he had written for ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuster |first1=Jeremy |title=The Evolution of Donald Glover, From YouTube Star to Lando Calrissian |url=https://www.thewrap.com/evolution-donald-glover-derrick-comedy-community-atlanta/ |work=[[TheWrap]] |date=October 21, 2016 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230220959/https://www.thewrap.com/evolution-donald-glover-derrick-comedy-community-atlanta/ |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gq.com/story/donald-glover-global-creativity-awards-cover-2023 | title=Inside Donald Glover's New Creative Playground | date=April 4, 2023 }}</ref><ref name="villagevoice"/><ref name="Rolling Stone" /> From 2006 to 2009 Glover wrote for ''30 Rock'', in which he also had occasional appearances.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cobb |first1=Kayla |title=Never Forget That Donald Glover Played '30 Rock's Young Tracy Jordan |url=https://decider.com/2018/09/25/donald-glover-30-rock-cameo/ |work=[[New York Post#Website|Decider]] |language=en |date=September 25, 2018 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230221144/https://decider.com/2018/09/25/donald-glover-30-rock-cameo/ |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> He and his co-writers were presented with the [[Writers Guild of America Awards 2008|Writers Guild of America Award]] for Best Comedy Series in 2008 for his work on the third season.<ref name="WGA 09 Official">{{cite press release|url=http://wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3410 |title=2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced |access-date=January 19, 2012 |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America]] |date=December 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212052838/http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3410 |archive-date=December 12, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2008, he unsuccessfully auditioned to play [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] on the sketch comedy program ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'';<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sklar|first1=Rachel|title=Whobama? SNL Returns Tonight With Mystery Obama, And Actual Huckabee|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/whobama-snl-returns-tonig_n_87926|website=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=April 4, 2018|date=March 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155747/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/whobama-snl-returns-tonig_n_87926|archive-date=May 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the role went to cast member [[Fred Armisen]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Egner|first1=Jeremy|title=A Tale of Two Obamas|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/a-tale-of-two-obamas/|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 4, 2018|date=March 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155550/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/a-tale-of-two-obamas/|archive-date=May 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> While attending NYU, Glover became a member of the [[sketch comedy]] group Derrick Comedy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/09/donald-glover-timeline-long-strange-trip-to-atlanta.html|title=Donald Glover's Long, Strange Trip From Atlanta to Atlanta| work=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]]|last=Kavner| first=Lucas| date=September 6, 2016|access-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104224552/https://www.vulture.com/2016/09/donald-glover-timeline-long-strange-trip-to-atlanta.html|archive-date=November 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> having appeared in their sketches on [[YouTube]] since 2006, along with [[Dominic Dierkes]], Meggie McFadden, [[DC Pierson]], and [[Dan Eckman]]. The group wrote and starred in a feature-length film, ''[[Mystery Team]]'', a comedy about amateur teenage detectives; it premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bramesco |first1=Charles |title=Remembering "Mystery Team", the Forgettable Film Donald Glover Can't Erase |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/movies/remembering-mystery-team-the-forgettable-film-donald-glover-cant-erase |website=InsideHook |date=August 28, 2019 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230221417/https://www.insidehook.com/article/movies/remembering-mystery-team-the-forgettable-film-donald-glover-cant-erase |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> With a limited release, fans requested the film to be shown in their local theaters.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Angelo|first1=Megan|title=His Day Job Subsidizes All That Other Stuff|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/arts/television/14glover.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 1, 2018|date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301133044/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/arts/television/14glover.html|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:DonaldGloverMar10.jpg|thumb|170px|Glover at a panel for ''Community'' at [[PaleyFest]] 2010]]
Glover starred as former high school jock Troy Barnes on [[Dan Harmon]]'s [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]'', which premiered in September 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Greenberg|first1=Rudi|title=One of a Kind: 'Community' Star Donald Glover and His Rap Alter-Ego Childish Gambino at the Black Cat|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2011/05/05/donald-glover-childish-gambino-community-black-cat/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=February 1, 2018|date=May 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2011/05/05/donald-glover-childish-gambino-community-black-cat/|archive-date=March 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He did not return as a full-time cast member for the show's [[Community (season 5)|fifth season]], appearing only in the first five episodes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ausiello|first1=Michael|title=''Community'' Season 5: Donald Glover Not Returning Full Time – Who's Gonna Tell Abed?|url=http://tvline.com/2013/07/08/community-season-5-donald-glover-leaving/|work=[[TVLine]]|access-date=February 1, 2018|date=July 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710184628/http://tvline.com/2013/07/08/community-season-5-donald-glover-leaving/|archive-date=July 10, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite speculation that Glover was leaving to pursue his music career, a series of hand-written notes which he posted to [[Instagram]] revealed that his reasons were more personal, citing a need for projects that offered him more independence as he worked through some personal issues.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bojalad|first1=Alec|title=Donald Glover explains why he left 'Community' in letter to fans|url=http://www.hypable.com/donald-glover-explains-left-community-letter/|website=Hypable|date=October 15, 2013|access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref> Although Harmon approached Glover about returning to the show for its sixth season, Glover declined, feeling that his character's return would not serve the show, the audience, or himself as an actor, and that his career and he himself moved on from the show.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Julia|title=Donald Glover on why he had to leave Community to move his career forward|url=http://www.polygon.com/tv/2016/8/9/12415520/donald-glover-community-atlanta-childish-gambino/|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321165533/http://www.polygon.com/tv/2016/8/9/12415520/donald-glover-community-atlanta-childish-gambino|archive-date=March 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> About a little more than ten years later he would announce to return for the then-in-production [[Community (TV series)#Film|''Community'' movie]].

In May 2010, a fan suggested Glover for the role of [[Spider-Man|Spider-Man/Peter Parker]] in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 film)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' film, encouraging his supporters to retweet the hashtag "#donald4spiderman".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yamato |first1=Jen |date=July 6, 2017 |title=How Donald Glover wound up in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming,' and what it might mean for an inclusive future |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-spider-man-homecoming-donald-glover-20170706-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708005310/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-spider-man-homecoming-donald-glover-20170706-story.html |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |access-date=January 5, 2018 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2021 |title=Donald Glover for Spider-Man: The evolution of a meme |url=https://gizmodo.com/donald-glover-for-spider-man-the-evolution-of-a-meme-5552684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616024328/https://gizmodo.com/donald-glover-for-spider-man-the-evolution-of-a-meme-5552684 |archive-date=June 16, 2021 |access-date=January 4, 2024}}</ref> The campaign sparked a viral response on [[Twitter]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Sciretta |first=Peter |date=May 30, 2010 |title=Donald Glover Campaigns for Spider-Man Audition |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/donald-for-spider-man/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104115328/http://www.slashfilm.com/donald-for-spider-man/ |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2012 |publisher=[[/Film]]}}</ref> The call for Glover to audition for the role was supported by [[Spider-Man]] creator [[Stan Lee]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lamar |first=Cyriaque |date=June 9, 2010 |title=Smilin' Stan Lee weighs in on Donald Glover for Spider-Man |work=io9 |url=http://io9.com/5559655/smilin-stan-lee-weighs-in-on-donald-glover-for-spider+man |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512072653/http://io9.com/5559655/smilin-stan-lee-weighs-in-on-donald-glover-for-spider+man |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |access-date=December 26, 2010 |publisher=[[io9]]}}</ref> However, Glover did not audition and the role went to [[Andrew Garfield]]. He later revealed that he was never contacted by [[Sony Pictures]]. Comics writer [[Brian Michael Bendis]], who announced [[Spider-Man (Miles Morales)|Miles Morales]], an African-American version of Spider-Man a year later, said he had conceived of the character before Glover's campaign went viral.<ref name="huff">{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Matt |date=August 2, 2011 |title=New Ultimate Spider-Man Is Half-Black, Half-Latino |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/new-ultimate-spider-man-half-black-half-latino_n_916468.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925074952/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/new-ultimate-spider-man-half-black-half-latino_n_916468.html |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |work=[[HuffPost]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Bendis gave credit to Glover for influencing the new hero's looks for Spider-Man; Bendis said, "I saw him in the costume [on ''Community''] and thought, 'I would like to read that book.{{'"}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=August 2, 2011 |title=A TV comedy assured new Spidey's creator |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-08-02-new-spider-man-inside_n.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080510/http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-08-02-new-spider-man-inside_n.htm |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |access-date=January 22, 2012 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Glover later voiced this incarnation of Spider-Man on the ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' animated series.<ref>{{cite news |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=August 26, 2014 |title=Spider-Man 'can be anybody' – and now he's Donald Glover |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/08/26/donald-glover-ultimate-spider-man-exclusive/14559815/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826094856/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/08/26/donald-glover-ultimate-spider-man-exclusive/14559815/ |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |access-date=August 26, 2014 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

Glover received the Rising Comedy Star award at the [[Just for Laughs]] festival in July 2010, and was featured in [[Gap (clothing retailer)|Gap]]'s 2010 holiday advertising campaign.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 24, 2010 |title=Aziz Ansari & Donald Glover To Be Honored in Montreal |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/aziz-ansari-and-donald-glover-to-be-honored-in-montreal_article_33847 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106132233/http://www.accessonline.com/articles/aziz-ansari-donald-glover-to-be-honored-in-montreal-87055/ |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=December 26, 2010 |publisher=[[Access Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowers |first1=Brandon |date=December 4, 2010 |title=Net-savvy Merced native featured in Gap ad campaign |url=http://www.mercedsunstar.com/latest-news/article3256961.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131631/http://www.mercedsunstar.com/latest-news/article3256961.html |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2018 |work=[[Merced Sun-Star]]}}</ref>

===2013–2017: ''Atlanta'' and ''Spider-Man''===

In 2013, Glover signed a deal to create a music-themed show for [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] titled ''[[Atlanta (TV series)|Atlanta]]'', in which he would star, write, and serve as an executive producer.<ref name="DeadlineAtlanta">{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |date=August 6, 2013 |title=Donald Glover To Create And Star In Music-Themed FX Comedy Series Project |url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/donald-glover-to-create-and-star-in-music-themed-fx-comedy-series-project-557750/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203143805/http://deadline.com/2013/08/donald-glover-to-create-and-star-in-music-themed-fx-comedy-series-project-557750/ |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Although several networks were interested in picking up his half-hour comedy, he chose FX due to their willingness to work around his touring schedule.<ref name="DeadlineAtlanta" /> He had a supporting role in the romantic comedy ''[[The To Do List]]'' (2013), which performed below expectations, and guest starred in two episodes of the comedy-drama television series ''[[Girls (TV series)|Girls]]'' in early 2013, as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] who is the brief love interest to [[Lena Dunham]]'s character.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Kyle |date=August 29, 2012 |title=''The To-Do List'' Teaser: Aubrey Plaza Gets Some |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/08/to-do-list-teaser-aubrey-plaza-gets-some.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073618/http://www.vulture.com/2012/08/to-do-list-teaser-aubrey-plaza-gets-some.html |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=January 6, 2018 |website=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dekel |first1=Jon |date=January 10, 2014 |title=Lena Dunham 'knows what she's doing,' Donald Glover says of the Girls creator and her controversies |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/television/lena-dunham-knows-what-shes-doing-donald-glover-says-of-the-girls-creator-and-her-controversies |access-date=February 6, 2018 |website=[[National Post]]}}</ref>

After being in development since August 2013, FX ordered the ''[[Atlanta (TV series)|Atlanta]]'' series in December 2014, announcing a 10-episode season in October 2015, which premiered on September 6, 2016, to widespread critical acclaim.<ref name="seriesorder">{{cite web |author1=FX press release |date=October 15, 2015 |title="Atlanta" Ordered to Series on FX – Comedy Created by and Starring Donald Glover Picked Up for 10-Episode First Season |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2015/10/15/atlanta-ordered-to-series-on-fx-comedy-created-by-and-starring-donald-glover-picked-up-for-10-episode-first-season-129012/20151015fx01/ |access-date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=The Futon Critic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Calvario |first1=Liz |date=August 12, 2016 |title='Atlanta' Trailer: Donald Glover Aspires To Achieve Greatness In New FX Dramedy |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/atlanta-trailer-donald-glover-fx-series-1201716558/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822235231/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/atlanta-trailer-donald-glover-fx-series-1201716558/ |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |access-date=August 20, 2016 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lockett |first1=Dee |date=January 8, 2017 |title=Donald Glover 'Trojan Horsed' FX to Get Atlanta Made |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/donald-glover-trojan-horsed-fx-for-atlanta.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609122624/https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/donald-glover-trojan-horsed-fx-for-atlanta.html |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |access-date=October 15, 2020 |website=Vulture |quote=''Atlanta'' may be one of the best shows of 2016 and now officially a Golden Globe winner, taking home two awards including Best Comedy and Best Actor for Donald Glover, but its universal acclaim all goes back to one little white lie.}}</ref> Glover writes, occasionally directs, executive produces, and stars in the series as Earnest "Earn" Marks, a [[Princeton University|Princeton]] dropout who manages his rapper cousin as they navigate through the [[Atlanta hip hop]] scene.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kindley |first1=Evan |date=March 2, 2018 |title=The Surrealist Grace of Donald Glover's Atlanta |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/the-surrealist-grace-of-donald-glovers-atlanta/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402194300/https://www.thenation.com/article/the-surrealist-grace-of-donald-glovers-atlanta/ |archive-date=April 2, 2018 |access-date=April 25, 2018 |website=The Nation}}</ref> For his work on the show, Glover has earned various accolades, including [[Golden Globe Awards]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy|Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy]] (becoming the [[List of black Golden Globe Award winners and nominees#Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy|fifth black person in Golden Globe history]] to win in the category) as well as [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series|Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series]], making him the first black person to win an Emmy for the latter category.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Danielle Turchiano |date=September 18, 2017 |title=Donald Glover Wins Emmy For Lead Actor in a Comedy Series |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/donald-glover-emmys-lead-actor-trump-1202557335/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154629/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/donald-glover-emmys-lead-actor-trump-1202557335/ |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2017 |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 18, 2017 |title=Donald Glover Is First Black Director To Win An Emmy in Comedy &#124; HuffPost |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-glover-emmy_us_59bf1fb7e4b0edff971d1b1d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918083746/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-glover-emmy_us_59bf1fb7e4b0edff971d1b1d |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2017 |publisher=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref> Due to the success of the series, FX signed Glover to an exclusive deal to write and produce more shows for the network. The first of these shows was an animated series featuring the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Deadpool]], which was set to premiere in 2018 but was later canceled due to creative differences.<ref>{{cite web |last=Egner |first=Jeremy |date=May 10, 2017 |title='Deadpool' Animated Series Coming to FXX |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/arts/television/deadpool-donald-glover-fxx-animated-series.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918110737/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/arts/television/deadpool-donald-glover-fxx-animated-series.html |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |date=March 24, 2018 |title=FX, Donald Glover Exit Marvel's Animated 'Deadpool' Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fx-donald-glover-exit-marvels-animated-deadpool-series-1097145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325033520/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fx-donald-glover-exit-marvels-animated-deadpool-series-1097145 |archive-date=March 25, 2018 |access-date=March 25, 2018 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Glover later posted an unofficial and unproduced script to his Twitter account commenting that he was not "too busy to work on Deadpool", ending media speculation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |date=March 28, 2018 |title=Donald Glover Tweets 15-Page 'Deadpool' Script, Says Was Not "Too Busy" For FX Series |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/donald-glover-deadpool-fx-tweet-script-not-too-busy-1202354658 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416191637/http://deadline.com/2018/03/donald-glover-deadpool-fx-tweet-script-not-too-busy-1202354658/ |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=April 16, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

Glover appeared in three films in 2015. In ''[[The Lazarus Effect (2015 film)|The Lazarus Effect]]'', he played a scientist working with a team of researchers who bring dead people back to life with disastrous consequences.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Foutch |first1=Haleigh |date=February 26, 2015 |title=Donald Glover Talks The Lazarus Effect, Magic Mike XXL, and Ridley Scott's The Martian |url=https://collider.com/donald-glover-lazarus-effect-magic-mike-xxl-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131747/http://collider.com/donald-glover-lazarus-effect-magic-mike-xxl-interview/ |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> Next, Glover played a singer in the comedy-drama ''[[Magic Mike XXL]]'' and performed a cover of the [[Bruno Mars]] song "[[Marry You]]" in the film, which was included in the [[Magic Mike XXL#Soundtrack|soundtrack]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Martin |first1=Paley |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Donald Glover Covers Bruno Mars' 'Marry You' for 'Magic Mike XXL' Soundtrack |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6613243/donald-glover-bruno-mars-marry-you-magic-mike-xxl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518072344/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6613243/donald-glover-bruno-mars-marry-you-magic-mike-xxl |archive-date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> His third release that year was [[Ridley Scott]]'s science fiction [[The Martian (Weir novel)|adaptation]] ''[[The Martian (film)|The Martian]]'', featuring Glover as a [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] astrodynamicist who helps rescue an astronaut, played by [[Matt Damon]], stranded on [[Mars]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Li |first1=Shirley |date=September 11, 2015 |title=Donald Glover runs circles around Jeff Daniels in new clip from The Martian |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/09/11/the-martian-donald-glover-clip/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131827/http://ew.com/article/2015/09/11/the-martian-donald-glover-clip/ |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

In April 2017, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named Glover in its annual "[[Time 100|100 Most Influential People in the World]]". [[Tina Fey]] wrote the entry for Glover; she remarked that he "embodies his generation's belief that people can be whatever they want and change what it is they want, at any time".<ref name="time100">{{cite magazine |last1=Fey |first1=Tina |date=April 20, 2017 |title=Donald Glover: The World's 100 Most Influential People |url=https://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736210/donald-glover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111052536/https://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736210/donald-glover/ |archive-date=November 11, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Later that year, Glover appeared as criminal [[Prowler (Marvel Comics)|Aaron Davis]] in the superhero film ''[[Spider-Man: Homecoming]]'' (2017). Davis is the uncle of the [[Spider-Man (Miles Morales)|Miles Morales]] version of [[Spider-Man]], whom Glover had voiced in the ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' animated series. The casting was described as "a surprise treat for fans" by the film's director [[Jon Watts]], aware of his 2010 campaign to portray the superhero.<ref name="GloverRole">{{cite web |last=Yamato |first=Jen |date=July 6, 2017 |title=How Donald Glover wound up in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming,' and what it might mean for an inclusive future |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-spider-man-homecoming-donald-glover-20170706-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708005310/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-spider-man-homecoming-donald-glover-20170706-story.html |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |access-date=July 6, 2017 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>  He would later reprise this role in a live-action cameo in ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]'' (2023).

===2018–2019: ''Star Wars,'' ''Lion King, and Atlanta'' second season===
[[File:PheobeW.jpg|thumb|left|190px|Glover (left) promoting ''Solo'' with [[Phoebe Waller-Bridge]] in 2018]]While filming ''Atlanta''{{'s}} second season, Glover portrayed a young version of [[Lando Calrissian]] in ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]'' (2018), causing him to miss appearances in some episodes; Calrissian was previously played by [[Billy Dee Williams]] in two films in the [[original trilogy|original ''Star Wars'' trilogy]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 21, 2016 |title=Donald Glover Cast as Young Lando Calrissian in Upcoming Han Solo Star Wars Stand-Alone Film |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/donald-glover-cast-as-young-lando-calrissian-in-upcoming-han-solo-star-wars-stand-alone-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207060734/http://www.starwars.com/news/donald-glover-cast-as-young-lando-calrissian-in-upcoming-han-solo-star-wars-stand-alone-film |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |access-date=December 22, 2016 |work=StarWars.com}}</ref> Despite the film's turbulent production and poor box office returns, Glover's performance was praised, particularly by critic [[Stephanie Zacharek]] for his "unruly, charismatic elegance".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Zacharek |first1=Stephanie |date=May 16, 2018 |title=Review: ''Solo'' Is an Uneven Star Wars Film. But It's Filled With Terrific Performances |url=https://time.com/5278953/solo-review-star-wars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521102945/http://time.com/5278953/solo-review-star-wars/ |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 28, 2018 |title=Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian Is the Best Part of Solo |url=https://time.com/5290557/donald-glover-solo-lando-calrissian/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523113853/http://time.com/5290557/donald-glover-solo-lando-calrissian/ |archive-date=May 23, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Donald Glover and Lando Calrissian hijacked 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' from Han Solo |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/05/21/donald-glover-lando-calrissian-stole-solo-star-wars-story/617699002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118215044/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/05/21/donald-glover-lando-calrissian-stole-solo-star-wars-story/617699002/ |archive-date=November 18, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

In February 2018, Glover approached [[Regency Enterprises|New Regency]], without a script, about a project he wanted to work on while he had free time between ''Solo'' promotional duties and his This Is America Tour. Due to his previous success, they accepted his offer quickly and [[Amazon Studios]] agreed to distribute the film.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=April 11, 2019 |title=Exclusive: Inside Amazon's Plan for Donald Glover's Secret, Rihanna-Starring Movie |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/04/exclusive-amazon-donald-glover-rihanna-movie |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508184501/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/04/exclusive-amazon-donald-glover-rihanna-movie |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2019 |magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref> ''[[Guava Island]]'', the resulting film written by [[Stephen Glover (screenwriter)|Stephen Glover]] and directed by Hiro Murai, was filmed in [[Cuba]]. It stars Glover as a musician who decides to throw a festival on his homeland, with [[Rihanna]] co-starring as his partner and muse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Falt |first=Chris |date=August 17, 2018 |title=Rihanna and Donald Glover In Cuba: 'Guava Island' Is Likely Much Bigger Than a Music Video – Report |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/08/rihanna-donald-glover-guava-island-bigger-than-music-video-hiro-murai-ibra-ake-1201995624/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033828/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/08/rihanna-donald-glover-guava-island-bigger-than-music-video-hiro-murai-ibra-ake-1201995624/ |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |access-date=October 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=November 26, 2018 |title=Donald Glover Premieres Trailer for Film With Rihanna, 'Guava Island' (Watch) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/donald-glover-childish-gambino-premieres-trailer-film-rihanna-guava-island-watch-1203036156/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204101953/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/donald-glover-childish-gambino-premieres-trailer-film-rihanna-guava-island-watch-1203036156/ |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=December 3, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> It was released in 2019 through [[Amazon Prime Video]] to generally favorable critical appraisal after premiering at [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=April 12, 2019 |title=Donald Glover and Rihanna's surprise film Guava Island is streaming free for a limited time |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/4/12/18308343/guava-island-donald-glover-rihanna-how-to-watch-free-streaming |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414181600/https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/4/12/18308343/guava-island-donald-glover-rihanna-how-to-watch-free-streaming |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |access-date=April 15, 2019 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Guava Island |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/guava-island/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429020821/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/guava-island |archive-date=April 29, 2019 |access-date=April 14, 2019 |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> Glover provided guest vocals to the track "Monster" on [[21 Savage]]'s 2018 album ''[[I Am Greater than I Was|I Am > I Was]]'', reflecting on his negative feelings toward the music industry and why he wants to retire from music.<ref name="Miller">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Matt |date=December 21, 2018 |title=Childish Gambino's Verse on 21 Savage's 'Monster' Explains Why He Wants to Retire From Music |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a25653251/childish-gambino-21-savage-monster-lyrics-verse/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425182715/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a25653251/childish-gambino-21-savage-monster-lyrics-verse/ |archive-date=April 25, 2019 |access-date=April 25, 2019 |website=Esquire}}</ref> He partnered with [[Adidas Originals]] to reimagine three pairs of classic [[Adidas]] sneakers, which were launched in April 2019 under the "Donald Glover Presents" line and were promoted by a series of advertisements starring comedian [[Mo'Nique]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2019 |title=Donald Glover Launches New Adidas Shoes With Ads Starring Mo'Nique |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/donald-glover-launches-new-adidas-partnership-signature-shoes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418183201/https://pitchfork.com/news/donald-glover-launches-new-adidas-partnership-signature-shoes/ |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2019 |title=Donald Glover and adidas Originals officially launch Donald Glover Presents |url=https://news.adidas.com/originals/donald-glover-and-adidas-originals-officially-launch-donald-glover-presents/s/69d66aa2-ee05-4709-9a2c-38182917ef2f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418181314/https://news.adidas.com/originals/donald-glover-and-adidas-originals-officially-launch-donald-glover-presents/s/69d66aa2-ee05-4709-9a2c-38182917ef2f |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019 |website=news.adidas.com}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Glover |first=Donald |title=Donald Glover Presents: adidas Originals |date=April 18, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cqs74EIaw |access-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419114122/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cqs74EIaw |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Glover provided the voice for adult Simba, the titular protagonist and lion prince turned king in [[The Lion King (2019 film)|''The Lion King'']] (2019), a remake of the 1994 [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]] film [[The Lion King|of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Couch, Aaron |date=February 17, 2017 |title='Lion King' Remake Casts Donald Glover as Simba, James Earl Jones as Mufasa |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-live-action-movie-casts-donald-glover-as-simba-977488 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218014645/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-live-action-movie-casts-donald-glover-as-simba-977488 |archive-date=February 18, 2017 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Glover praised the director, [[Jon Favreau]], for the way he constructed the timeless story and asked him to re-record his lines as he connected to the film's story line more personally after his father's death.<ref name="USAToday" /><ref name="youtube.com">{{Cite magazine |date=April 25, 2019 |title=What To Expect From The Characters In The Upcoming 'The Lion King' Adaptation – Entertainment Weekly |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRPVHyELXo&t=19s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721115959/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRPVHyELXo&t=19s |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2019 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]/[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Glover sang on the film's soundtrack and on the curated album ''[[The Lion King: The Gift]]'', featuring songs inspired by the film.<ref name="TheGift">{{cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=July 9, 2019 |title=Beyoncé Releasing New Song "Spirit" Tonight, Curates Lion King Album |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/beyonce-releasing-new-song-spirit-tonight-curates-lion-king-album/ |access-date=July 9, 2019 |work=[[Pitchfork Media]]}}</ref> Although it received mixed reviews, the film grossed $1.6&nbsp;billion worldwide, making it one of the [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lion King |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3321923073/?landingModalImageUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2FIMDbPro%2Fimages%2Fhome%2FwelcomeToBomojov2._CB1571421611_.png |access-date=November 6, 2019 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>

===2021–present===

In 2021, Glover signed an overall deal with [[Amazon Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Elaine |date=February 18, 2021 |title=Donald Glover Inks Overall Deal With Amazon Studios |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/donald-glover-inks-overall-deal-with-amazon-studios-1234910036/ |access-date=February 20, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref> It was announced that he would be producing and starring in a [[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024 TV series)|television reboot]] of [[Doug Liman]]'s 2005 film ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'', with [[Maya Erskine]] co-starring.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |date=April 7, 2022 |title='Mr. & Mrs. Smith': Maya Erskine To Star Opposite Donald Glover In Prime Video Series, Replacing Phoebe Waller-Bridge |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/mr-mrs-smith-maya-erskine-star-donald-glover-prime-video-series-replacement-phoebe-waller-bridge-1234996334/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref> In April 2021, Glover tweeted that he was in the midst of writing a trilogy of feature films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tsang |first=Christopher |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Donald Glover Reveals He's Working on A Trilogy Of Movies |url=https://screenrant.com/donald-glover-movie-trilogy-update/ |access-date=February 20, 2021 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2022, both seasons 3 and 4 of ''Atlanta'' had completed filming, with season 3 premiering on March 24, 2022, and the final season on September 15, 2022.<ref name="FinalSeason">{{cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=February 17, 2022 |title='Atlanta' Ending With Season 4 on FX |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/atlanta-ending-season-4-fx-1235095542/ |access-date=February 17, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In March 2022, Glover announced that he was working on a [[Disney+]] Star Wars series based on [[Lando Calrissian]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Star Wars: Donald Glover Breaks Silence on Lando Disney+ Show |url=https://thedirect.com/article/star-wars-donald-glover-lando-disney-show |website=The Direct}}</ref>

In December 2022, it was announced that Glover would star and produce a feature set in Sony Pictures' [[Spider-Man]] universe. The film currently has no title but is said to revolve around the [[Hypno-Hustler]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Borys Kit |date=December 16, 2022 |title=Donald Glover to Star in, Produce Spider-Man Movie Based on Villain Hypno-Hustler (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/donald-glover-to-star-in-spider-man-movie-hypno-hustler-1235283667/ |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Matt Grobar |date=December 16, 2022 |title=Donald Glover Set For Spider-Man Film At Sony Centered On Villain Hypno-Hustler |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/donald-glover-set-for-spider-man-film-on-villain-hypno-hustler-1235201427/ |access-date=December 16, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref> He is also the creator of the television series ''[[Swarm (TV series)|Swarm]]'', starring [[Dominique Fishback]], [[Damson Idris]], and [[Chloe Bailey]]. Serving as a director and executive producer on the show, the series is the first project from his deal with [[Amazon Studios]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Donald Glover Interviews Donald Glover |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/donald-glover-interviews-donald-glover |website=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Glenn |date=March 26, 2022 |title=Donald Glover Raves About Writing with 'Amazingly Talented' Malia Obama on Upcoming Series |url=https://people.com/politics/donald-glover-malia-obama-amazingly-talented-writing-upcoming-show-hive/ |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=people.com |language=en}}</ref>

In an October 2022 interview with ''Variety'', ''Community'' creator Dan Harmon said that he believes Glover would be in the upcoming Sony Pictures and [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] produced ''Community'' film. "I think that Donald is coming, based on word of mouth, but it's just the deal isn't official or wasn't official. It would be difficult to really commit to doing this thing without Donald," Harmon said. "So I believe he is coming back."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=October 7, 2022 |title='Community' Movie Could Still Include Donald Glover, Dan Harmon Says: 'I Believe He Is Coming Back' |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/community-movie-dan-harmon-donald-glover-peacock-1235396414/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2023, Glover confirmed he would be returning for the [[Community (TV series)#Film|''Community'' movie]].<ref name="CommunityMovie">{{Citation |title=Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters {{!}} GQ |date=April 4, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXb9J187Wmo |access-date=April 5, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2023, it was announced that Glover and his brother Stephen would replace [[Justin Simien]] as the head writers of the upcoming ''Star Wars'' series ''Lando''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Exclusive: Donald Glover and Stephen Glover to Write Lucasfilm's Lando Series as Justin Simien Exits |url=https://abovetheline.com/2023/07/27/donald-glover-lando-tv-show-stephen-glover-justin-simien-disney-plus/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=Above The Line |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Donald Glover's 'Star Wars' Series 'Lando' Is Now a Movie |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/lando-movie-donald-glover-star-wars-1235723736/ |publisher=Variety}}</ref> On January 8, 2024, it was announced Donald Glover would star in the biopic of British-American rap artist [[21 Savage]], titled ''American Dream: The 21 Savage Story,'' alongside ''[[Stranger Things]]'' star [[Caleb McLaughlin]] and Savage; Glover was expected to play 21 Savage.<ref name="21Savbiopic">{{cite web |last1=ROSSIGNOL |first1=DERRICK |date=January 8, 2024 |title=21 Savage And Donald Glover Tease A New Biopic, 'American Dream: The 21 Savage Story,' And It's Coming Soon |url=https://uproxx.com/music/american-dream-the-21-savage-story-donald-glover-tease/ |access-date=January 8, 2024 |website=Uproxx}}</ref> On January 24, Savage revealed that the biopic's announcement was actually a "parody", though he noted that "it could be [a real movie] one day".<ref>{{cite web |last=Singh |first=Karan |date=January 24, 2024 |title=21 SAVAGE ADMITS 'AMERICAN DREAM' BIOPIC IS A 'PARODY' & ISN'T COMING OUT |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/21-savage-american-dream-biopic-parody |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125180346/https://hiphopdx.com/news/21-savage-american-dream-biopic-parody |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=[[HipHopDX]]}}</ref>

== Music career (as Childish Gambino) ==
===Early career===
Glover's stage name, Childish Gambino, which he used to start his musical career, comes from a [[Wu-Tang Clan]] name generator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/how-donald-glover-became-a-quintuple-threat.html|title=Tracing the Career Arc of Donald Glover, a Bonafide Quintuple Threat|work=Vulture |date=July 11, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711142846/https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/how-donald-glover-became-a-quintuple-threat.html|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2008, he released the independent [[mixtape]] ''Sick Boi''.<ref name="MenchComplex">{{cite news|last1=Mench|first1=Chris|title=But I'm Not a Rapper: Everything You Need to Know About Childish Gambino's First Three Mixtapes|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2015/08/everything-you-need-to-know-about-childish-gambinos-first-three-mixtapes|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=February 1, 2018|date=August 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202021342/http://www.complex.com/music/2015/08/everything-you-need-to-know-about-childish-gambinos-first-three-mixtapes|archive-date=February 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2009, he released his second mixtape ''Poindexter''.<ref name="MenchComplex" /> A pair of mixtapes titled ''I Am Just a Rapper'' and ''I Am Just A Rapper 2'', were released in close succession in 2010, and ''[[Culdesac (album)|Culdesac]]'', his third mixtape, was released in July of that year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vitcavage|first1=Adam|title=15 Essential Pre-Camp Childish Gambino Songs|url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/11/15-essential-pre-camp-childish-gambino-songs.html|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=February 1, 2018|date=November 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202071452/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/11/15-essential-pre-camp-childish-gambino-songs.html|archive-date=February 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2010, Glover performed a 30-minute set on the stand-up showcase program ''[[Comedy Central Presents]]''.<ref name="BusinessInsider">{{cite news|last1=Lynch|first1=John|title=How Donald Glover went from unknown comedy writer to triple-threat Hollywood star|url=http://nordic.businessinsider.com/donald-glover-career-bio-2016-9/|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=January 5, 2018|date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130012741/http://nordic.businessinsider.com/donald-glover-career-bio-2016-9|archive-date=January 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2011–2012: ''EP'' and ''Camp''===
[[File:Childish Gambino-Bowery Ballroom-1.jpg|thumb|left|Glover performing as Childish Gambino at the [[Bowery Ballroom]] in [[New York City]] in 2010]]

His first [[extended play]], titled ''[[EP (Childish Gambino EP)|EP]]'', was released as a free digital download in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659468/donald-glover-untitled-ep.jhtml |title=Donald Glover Releases Untitled EP |author=Roberts, Steven |work=[[MTV]].com |date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=April 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412034021/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659468/donald-glover-untitled-ep.jhtml |archive-date=April 12, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A music video for the song "Freaks and Geeks" was released in that month and Glover hosted the [[MTVU]] Woodie Awards at [[South By Southwest]].<ref name="Billboard2011"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ng|first1=Philiana|title=Donald Glover to Host mtvU Woodie Awards|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/donald-glover-host-mtvu-woodie-163381|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=January 5, 2018|date=March 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073645/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/donald-glover-host-mtvu-woodie-163381|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Glover commenced his nationwide IAMDONALD Tour in April.<ref name="Billboard2011">{{cite magazine|last1=Mapes|first1=Jillian|title='Community' Actor Donald Glover Shows Off Rap Skills on 'Freaks and Geeks|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/472835/community-actor-donald-glover-shows-off-rap-skills-on-freaks|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=March 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518071833/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/472835/community-actor-donald-glover-shows-off-rap-skills-on-freaks|archive-date=May 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The tour was a one-man live show that consisted of rap, comedy, and video segments.<ref name="Billboard2011" /><ref name="villagevoice" /> He appeared at the [[2011 Bonnaroo Music Festival]] as both Childish Gambino and as a comedian, performing a set with [[Bill Bailey]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shuldman|first1=Harry|title=The A.V. Club at Bonnaroo 2011|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-at-bonnaroo-2011-1798226106|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=January 5, 2018|date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131508/https://music.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-at-bonnaroo-2011-1798226106|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> His one-hour stand-up special, ''Weirdo'', aired on [[Comedy Central]] in November 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/Community-Donald-Glover-Schedules-Stand-Up-Special-Weirdo-Comedy-Central-34351.html |title=Community's Donald Glover Schedules Stand-Up Special ''Weirdo'' For Comedy Central |website=Cinema Blend |first=Jesse |last=Carp |date=August 17, 2011 |access-date=January 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192500/http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Community-Donald-Glover-Schedules-Stand-Up-Special-Weirdo-Comedy-Central-34351.html |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

For his 2011 debut studio album, Glover approached ''Community''{{'s}} score composer, [[Ludwig Göransson]] for production assistance; Göransson has become his most frequent collaborator.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Weté|first=Brad|title=I Ain't No Joke|magazine=Billboard|volume=123|number=42|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/23/697124438/how-ludwig-g-ransson-helped-orchestrate-americas-conversation-on-race-in-2018|title=How Ludwig Göransson Helped Orchestrate America's Conversation On Race In 2018|publisher=[[NPR]]|last=Carmichael|first=Rodney|date=February 23, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008163609/https://www.npr.org/2019/02/23/697124438/how-ludwig-g-ransson-helped-orchestrate-americas-conversation-on-race-in-2018|archive-date=October 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to its release, Glover signed with [[Glassnote Records]] and embarked on The Sign-Up Tour.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Baltin|first1=Stev|title=Donald Glover's Hip-Hop Act Childish Gambino Signs to Glassnote|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/donald-glovers-hip-hop-act-childish-gambino-signs-to-glassnote-20110906|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=January 5, 2018|date=September 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118191721/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/donald-glovers-hip-hop-act-childish-gambino-signs-to-glassnote-20110906|archive-date=January 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The album titled ''[[Camp (album)|Camp]]'', was released on November 15, 2011, backed by his debut single "[[Bonfire (Childish Gambino song)|Bonfire]]" and "[[Heartbeat (Childish Gambino song)|Heartbeat]]", which peaked at number eighteen on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]] and number fifty-four on [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]].<ref name="BillboardChartHistory">{{cite magazine|title=Childish Gambino Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/childish-gambino/chart-history|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430080558/https://www.billboard.com/music/childish-gambino/chart-history|archive-date=April 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Camp'' debuted at number eleven on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 52,000 copies in the first week,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17721/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-11-20-2011|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 11/20/2011|work=[[HipHopDX]]|date=November 23, 2011|access-date=May 22, 2016|author=ajacobs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123171140/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17721/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-11-20-2011|archive-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> and was generally well received by critics,<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp by Childish Gambino Reviews and Tracks|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/camp/childish-gambino|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920012342/http://www.metacritic.com/music/camp/childish-gambino|archive-date=September 20, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> with ''[[PopMatters]]'' writer Steve Lepore finding it to be "undoubtedly one of the best records of any genre to come out in 2011".<ref name="Lepore">{{cite web|last=Lepore|first=Steve|date=November 23, 2011|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/151529-childish-gambino-camp/|title=Childish Gambino: Camp|work=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=June 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607231527/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/151529-childish-gambino-camp/|archive-date=June 7, 2012}}</ref> His Camp Gambino tour was scheduled to commence in March 2012,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coplan|first1=Chris|title=Childish Gambino announces "Camp Gambino" tour|url=https://consequence.net/2011/12/childish-gambino-announces-camp-gambino-tour/|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=December 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131441/https://consequence.net/2011/12/childish-gambino-announces-camp-gambino-tour/|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> but was postponed to April after he fractured his foot.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hudson|first1=Alex|title=Childish Gambino Postpones Tour Dates After Breaking Foot, Reschedules Toronto, Montreal Appearances|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/childish_gambino_postpones_tour_dates_after_breaking_foot_reschedules_toronto_montreal_appearances|website=[[Exclaim!]]|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131620/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/childish_gambino_postpones_tour_dates_after_breaking_foot_reschedules_toronto_montreal_appearances|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2012–2014: ''Royalty'', ''Because the Internet'' and ''STN MTN/Kauai''===

Glover released the songs "Eat Your Vegetables" and "Fuck Your Blog" through his website in April and May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gleason|first1=Becca|title=New Childish Gambino Track! "Eat Your Vegetables"|url=https://nerdist.com/new-childish-gambino-track-eat-your-vegetables/|publisher=[[Nerdist Industries|Nedist]]|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=April 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103326/https://nerdist.com/new-childish-gambino-track-eat-your-vegetables/|archive-date=June 16, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Throughout May and June, he premiered tracks from his sixth mixtape, ''[[Royalty (mixtape)|Royalty]]'', which was released as a free digital download in July. The album featured several artists, including his brother [[Stephen Glover (screenwriter)|Stephen]], under the alias Steve G. Lover III.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Leonie|title=Childish Gambino gives away free mixtape featuring Beck, RZA, Haim, Tina Fey|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/childish-gambino-17-1270473|website=[[NME]]|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=July 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131415/http://www.nme.com/news/music/childish-gambino-17-1270473|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The single "[[Trouble (Leona Lewis song)|Trouble]]" by British artist [[Leona Lewis]] from her album ''[[Glassheart]]'' (2012) featured Gambino with a guest rap performance. The song peaked at number seven on the [[UK Singles Chart]], making it his first UK Top 10 single.<ref>{{cite web|title=Childish Gambino Chart Records|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25786/childish-gambino/|publisher=UK Charts Company|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210014739/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25786/childish-gambino/|archive-date=December 10, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2012, Göransson said that he and Glover were in the studio generating new ideas for the next album which was to be "bigger" and "with more people involved".<ref name="ludwigportable">{{cite web|url=http://portable.tv/culture/post/meet-ludwig-goransson-the-dude-behind-the-music-on-community-happy-endings-and-the-new-girl/ |title=Meet Ludwig Goransson: The Dude Behind The Music On Community, Happy Endings And The New Girl |last1=Morrow |first1=Sean |date=November 1, 2012 |website=Portable.tv |publisher=Portable |access-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127030939/http://portable.tv/culture/post/meet-ludwig-goransson-the-dude-behind-the-music-on-community-happy-endings-and-the-new-girl/ |archive-date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:Childish Gambino at SXSW 2014 (Cropped Version).jpg|185px|thumb|Glover performing as Childish Gambino at [[South by Southwest]] in 2014]]
His second studio album, ''[[Because the Internet]]'', finished recording in October 2013 and was released in December,<ref>{{cite web| first= Kevin| last= Goddard| url= http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/childish-gambino-reveals-sophomore-album-is-done-news.7534.html| title= Childish Gambino Reveals That Sophomore Album Is Done| website= HotNewHipHop.com| date= October 4, 2013| access-date= December 10, 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131013114859/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/childish-gambino-reveals-sophomore-album-is-done-news.7534.html| archive-date= October 13, 2013| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>Mayorga, Dean. (December 3, 2013) [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25727/title.childish-gambino-because-the-internet-release-date Childish Gambino "because the internet" Release Date, Cover Art & Album Stream] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025214736/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25727/title.childish-gambino-because-the-internet-release-date |date=October 25, 2013 }}, HipHop DX. Retrieved on December 10, 2013.</ref> debuting at number seven on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart.<ref name="BillboardChartHistory" /> ''Because the Internet'' yielded the singles "[[3005 (song)|3005]]", "[[Crawl (Childish Gambino song)|Crawl]]" and "[[Sweatpants (song)|Sweatpants]]". "3005" peaked at number eight on the [[UK R&B Singles and Albums Charts|UK R&B Chart]] and sixty-four on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="BillboardChartHistory" /> To promote the album, Glover wrote a short film ''Clapping for the Wrong Reasons'' in which he stars; [[Chance the Rapper]], and [[Danielle Fishel]] also star. Directed by [[Hiro Murai]], it was released prior to the album's release and serves as its prelude. Additionally, a 72-page screenplay designed to sync with the album was also released.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jenkins|first1=Craig|title=Childish Gambino: ''Because the Internet'' Album Review|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18817-childish-gambino-because-the-internet/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513233514/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18817-childish-gambino-because-the-internet/|archive-date=May 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) certified "Heartbeat" Gold for shipping 500,000 copies in June 2014–making it Glover's first Gold certification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database|date=April 16, 2015|work=RIAA.com|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331234333/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|archive-date=March 31, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Because The Internet'' was also certified Gold.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=childish#search_section|title=Recording Industry Association of America|work=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722174842/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=childish#search_section|archive-date=July 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> From February to May 2014, he embarked on The Deep Web Tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2014/01/childish-gambino-lures-fans-cop-tickets-his-deep-web-tour-faux-adult-site|title=Childish Gambino Lures Fans To Cop Tickets For His Deep Web Tour With Faux Adult Site|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |date=January 7, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030233953/https://www.vibe.com/2014/01/childish-gambino-lures-fans-cop-tickets-his-deep-web-tour-faux-adult-site|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Glover directed the music video for the song "[[The Pressure (song)|The Pressure]]" by [[Jhené Aiko]]; he appeared in her previous single, "[[Bed Peace]]".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleischer|first1=Adam|title=Watch Jhene Aiko's 'The Pressure' Video Directed By Childish Gambino|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1918900/jhene-aiko-the-pressure-childish-gambino/|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=February 12, 2018|date=September 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084246/http://www.mtv.com/news/1918900/jhene-aiko-the-pressure-childish-gambino/|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 2, 2014, he released a mixtape titled ''[[STN MTN / Kauai|STN MTN]]'' and the next day an EP titled ''[[STN MTN / Kauai|Kauai]]'' spawning the single "[[Sober (Childish Gambino song)|Sober]]". ''STN MTN'' was a free download; the proceeds of ''Kauai'' went to law enforcement policies as well as the maintenance and preservation of [[Kauai]] island.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tardio|first1=Andres|title=Childish Gambino "STN MTN" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Mixtape Stream|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.30430/title.childish-gambino-stn-mtn-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-download-mixtape-stream|website=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=January 6, 2018|date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190256/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.30430/title.childish-gambino-stn-mtn-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-download-mixtape-stream|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Glover described them as a joint project and the "first concept mixtape ever" which continues the story told in ''Camp'' and ''Because the Internet''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Watch: Childish Gambino Talks Ariana Grande Collab, New Mixtape at iHeartRadio Fest|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/music-festivals/6259035/watch-childish-gambino-talks-ariana-grande-collab-new-iheartradio-music-festival|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=August 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517151905/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/music-festivals/6259035/watch-childish-gambino-talks-ariana-grande-collab-new-iheartradio-music-festival|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[57th Annual Grammy Awards]], he received his first Grammy nominations in [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]] for ''Because the Internet'' and [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance|Best Rap Performance]] for "3005".<ref name="Billboard"/>

===2015–2018: ''Awaken, My Love'' and ''Creed'' soundtrack===

Glover contributed to [[Creed (soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] of ''[[Creed (film)|Creed]]'' (2015), a film in the ''[[Rocky (film series)|Rocky]]'' film series, providing vocals to the song "Waiting For My Moment" and co-writing another titled "Breathe".<ref name="P&P">{{cite web |last1=Corrigan |first1=Graham |date=December 2, 2015 |title=From Childish Gambino to 'Creed': Producer Ludwig Goransson's Grand Vision |url=https://pigeonsandplanes.com/2015/12/creed-movie-soundtrack-ludwig/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106170401/https://pigeonsandplanes.com/2015/12/creed-movie-soundtrack-ludwig/ |archive-date=January 6, 2016 |access-date=September 16, 2016 |website=[[Pigeons & Planes]] |publisher=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]}}</ref>

In September 2016, Glover held three musical performances, known as the "Pharos Experience", in [[Joshua Tree, California]], where he debuted songs from his third studio album ''[["Awaken, My Love!"]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lyle |first1=Ashley |title=What You Missed at Childish Gambino's 'Pharos' Shows This Weekend |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7495981/childish-gambino-pharos-shows-labor-day-weekend |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 10, 2018 |date=September 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222083409/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7495981/childish-gambino-pharos-shows-labor-day-weekend |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The album was released in December; it reached number five on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was later certified platinum accumulating 1,000,000 certified units.<ref>{{cite web|author=Strauss, Matthew|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/69717-donald-glover-details-new-childish-gambino-album-awaken-my-love/|title=Donald Glover Details New Childish Gambino Album 'Awaken, My Love!'|work=Pitchfork|date=November 10, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110235401/http://pitchfork.com/news/69717-donald-glover-details-new-childish-gambino-album-awaken-my-love/|archive-date=November 10, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BillboardChartHistory" /><ref name="RIAA" /> It was considered a bold departure from his usual hip hop style as it primarily featured Glover singing rather than rapping, and saw him draw influences from [[psychedelic soul]], [[funk]] and [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] music,<ref name="spin">{{cite web|last=Josephs|first=Brian|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/12/childish-gambino-awaken-my-love-review/|title=Review: Childish Gambino Is Actually Good Now|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=December 5, 2016|access-date=December 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207144951/http://www.spin.com/2016/12/childish-gambino-awaken-my-love-review/|archive-date=December 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Sendra |first=Tim |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/awaken-my-love%21-mw0002994578 |title=Awaken, My Love! – Childish Gambino |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208235651/http://www.allmusic.com/album/awaken-my-love%21-mw0002994578 |archive-date=December 8, 2016 }}</ref> particularly of the funk band [[Funkadelic]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rys |first1=Dan |title=Producer Ludwig Goransson Explains How Funkadelic Helped Shape Childish Gambino's 'Awaken, My Love!' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7604448/donald-glover-ludwig-goransson-funkadelic-childish-gambino-awaken |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 10, 2018 |date=December 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022095900/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7604448/donald-glover-ludwig-goransson-funkadelic-childish-gambino-awaken |archive-date=October 22, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''"Awaken, My Love!"'' produced the singles "[[Me and Your Mama]]", "[[Redbone (song)|Redbone]]" (which peaked at number twelve on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100), and "[[Terrified (Childish Gambino song)|Terrified]]".<ref name=":1" /> Its vinyl release featured a [[virtual reality]] headset and an accompanying app that allowed owners to access virtual reality live performances from the Pharos Experience.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|title=Childish Gambino's "''Awaken, My Love''" "Virtual Reality" Vinyl Detailed|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/70287-childish-gambinos-awaken-my-love-virtual-reality-vinyl-detailed/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=January 10, 2018|date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110233432/https://pitchfork.com/news/70287-childish-gambinos-awaken-my-love-virtual-reality-vinyl-detailed/|archive-date=January 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The album was positively received by music critics and was nominated for both the 2018 [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album|Best Urban Contemporary Album]], while "Redbone" won [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance|Best Traditional R&B Performance]] and received nominations for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Song|Best R&B Song]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Reviews for "Awaken, My Love!" by Childish Gambino|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/awaken-my-love!/childish-gambino|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209004751/http://www.metacritic.com/music/awaken-my-love!/childish-gambino|archive-date=December 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GrammyAwards">{{cite web|title=Childish Gambino|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/childish-gambino|website=[[Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards website]]|publisher=[[The Recording Academy]]|access-date=February 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728084353/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/childish-gambino|archive-date=July 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Glover performed "Terrified" at the award show's [[60th Annual Grammy Awards|60th ceremony]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nyren|first1=Erin|title=Donald Glover Sang With the Voice of 'The Lion King's' Young Simba at the Grammys|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-grammys-performance-kid-1202679775/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 10, 2018|date=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180114/http://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-grammys-performance-kid-1202679775/|archive-date=February 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2018–2019: "This Is America"===

In June 2017, Glover announced his intention to retire the Childish Gambino stage name after his next album, telling the audience at [[Governors Ball Music Festival]], "I'll see you for the last Gambino album" before walking off stage.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Butler|first1=Will|title=Donald Glover reveals that next Childish Gambino project will be his final album|url=https://www.nme.com/news/donald-glover-childish-gambino-final-album-2083748|website=[[NME]]|access-date=February 10, 2018|date=June 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235127/http://www.nme.com/news/donald-glover-childish-gambino-final-album-2083748|archive-date=February 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He further explained his decision in an interview, feeling his musical career was no longer "necessary" and added "There's nothing worse than like a third sequel" and "I like it when something's good and when it comes back there's a reason to come back, there's a reason to do that."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-glover-retiring-childish-gambino_us_5936da0ce4b0099e7fafaaf3|title=Donald Glover Reveals Why He's Retiring Childish Gambino|last=Finley|first=Taryn|date=June 6, 2017|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607192848/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-glover-retiring-childish-gambino_us_5936da0ce4b0099e7fafaaf3|archive-date=June 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Glover signed with [[RCA Records]] in January 2018, which Glover called "a necessary change of pace".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Halperin|first1=Shirley|last2=Aswad|first2=Jem|title=Childish Gambino Signs With RCA, New Music on the Way|url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/childish-gambino-signs-with-rca-new-music-coming-later-this-year-exclusive-1202671783/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 10, 2018|date=January 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235216/http://variety.com/2018/biz/news/childish-gambino-signs-with-rca-new-music-coming-later-this-year-exclusive-1202671783/|archive-date=February 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Asward">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-performs-brand-new-song-saturday-on-snl-watch-1202800791/|title=Childish Gambino Performs Brand-New Song, 'Saturday,' on 'SNL' (Watch)|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Asward|first=Jem|date=May 6, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507013239/http://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-performs-brand-new-song-saturday-on-snl-watch-1202800791/|archive-date=May 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2018, he released a single titled "[[This Is America (song)|This Is America]]" while performing as both host and musical guest on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref name="Asward"/> The song debuted at number one, becoming both Glover's first number one and top ten single in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Trust|first1=Gary|title=Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' Blasts in at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8455823/childish-gambino-this-is-america-no-1-hot-100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 14, 2018|date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515020510/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8455823/childish-gambino-this-is-america-no-1-hot-100|archive-date=May 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It features him singing and rapping, drawing influence from [[trap music]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cornish|first1=Audie|title=Donald Glover's 'This Is America' Holds Ugly Truths To Be Self-Evident|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/05/07/609150167/donald-glovers-this-is-america-holds-ugly-truths-to-be-self-evident|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513082705/https://www.npr.org/2018/05/07/609150167/donald-glovers-this-is-america-holds-ugly-truths-to-be-self-evident|archive-date=May 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The lyrics addressed a variety of topics including [[gun violence in the United States|gun violence]] and [[African-American culture|being black in the United States]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Teesema|first1=Martha|title=Donald Glover tackles gun violence in powerful video for 'This Is America,' his new single|url=https://mashable.com/2018/05/06/childish-gambino-donald-glover-this-is-america/#GLCA1zRzRsqa|publisher=[[Mashable]]|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=May 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513080835/https://mashable.com/2018/05/06/childish-gambino-donald-glover-this-is-america/#GLCA1zRzRsqa|archive-date=May 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> while its controversial video, directed by Japanese-American filmmaker and frequent collaborator [[Hiro Murai]], showed Glover with a firearm shooting at a choir.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rao|first1=Sonia|title='This Is America': Breaking down Childish Gambino's powerful new music video|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/05/07/this-is-america-breaking-down-childish-gambinos-powerful-new-music-video/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420182233/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/05/07/this-is-america-breaking-down-childish-gambinos-powerful-new-music-video/|archive-date=April 20, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> "This is America" won the Grammy for Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Record of the Year becoming the first rap song to win the latter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/10/entertainment/childish-gambino-song-of-the-year/index.html|title=Childish Gambino makes Grammy history|author=Lisa Respers France|website=[[CNN]]|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=February 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211050347/https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/10/entertainment/childish-gambino-song-of-the-year/index.html|archive-date=February 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards|title=61st Annual GRAMMY Awards|date=December 6, 2018|website=GRAMMY.com|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207153109/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards|archive-date=December 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2018, Glover released the ''[[Summer Pack]]'' extended play containing the songs "[[Summertime Magic]]" and "[[Feels Like Summer (Childish Gambino song)|Feels Like Summer]]", the former of which was originally meant to be the lead single from Glover's forthcoming fourth studio album.<ref>{{cite news|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=July 11, 2018|title=Childish Gambino Drops Two New Summer-Themed Songs (Listen)|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-drops-two-new-summer-themed-songs-listen-1202870279/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=July 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711170844/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-drops-two-new-summer-themed-songs-listen-1202870279/|archive-date=July 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Saponara|first=Michael|date=July 11, 2018|title=Childish Gambino Brings Ultimate Summer Vibes With Two New Tracks: Listen|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8464937/childish-gambino-summertime-magic-feels-like-summer|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711215004/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8464937/childish-gambino-summertime-magic-feels-like-summer|archive-date=July 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> "Summertime Magic" debuted at forty-four on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/childish-gambino|title=Childish Gambino Summertime Magic Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623215516/https://www.billboard.com/music/childish-gambino|archive-date=June 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Glover began his fifth concert tour, [[This Is America Tour]] in September, announcing it would be his last during its opening show in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cowen |first1=Trace William |title=Donald Glover: 'This Is the Last Gambino Tour Ever' |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/09/donald-glover-this-is-the-last-gambino-tour-ever |website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |publisher=[[Verizon Hearst Media Partners|Complex Media]] |access-date=September 9, 2018 |date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908122912/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/09/donald-glover-this-is-the-last-gambino-tour-ever |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Two previously unreleased songs, "Algorhythm" and "All Night", were made available to people who bought tickets to the tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/childish-gambino-sent-2-new-songs-to-his-fans/|title=Childish Gambino Sent 2 New Songs to His Fans|work=Pitchfork|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=September 4, 2018|access-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905024527/https://pitchfork.com/news/childish-gambino-sent-2-new-songs-to-his-fans/|archive-date=September 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Days after headlining Coachella in April 2019, Glover premiered a new song, "Algorythm", through the mobile app Pharos AR.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/tech/8508140/childish-gambino-algorythm-song-augmented-reality-app-concert-experience|title=Childish Gambino Premieres New Song 'Algorythm' With AR App Bringing Concert Experience to Mobile Devices|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424195101/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/tech/8508140/childish-gambino-algorythm-song-augmented-reality-app-concert-experience|archive-date=April 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The augmented reality application allows users to open the virtual Pharos world with other players.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/childish-gambino-pharos-ar-android-app-1203196582/|title=Childish Gambino Releases 'Pharos' AR App for Android Phones|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=April 24, 2019|access-date=October 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430123359/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/childish-gambino-pharos-ar-android-app-1203196582/|archive-date=April 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> During his headlining performance at the 2019 [[Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival]], Glover drew "the biggest crowd that Outside Lands has ever had" and also announced that it was "the second to last show that we'll be doing" before retiring the Childish Gambino pseudonym.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/10/childish-gambino-rocks-biggest-crowd-outside-lands-has-ever-had/ |title=Childish Gambino rocks 'biggest crowd Outside Lands has ever had' |last=Harrington |first=Jim |date=August 11, 2019 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US |access-date=August 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812123939/https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/10/childish-gambino-rocks-biggest-crowd-outside-lands-has-ever-had/ |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> When asked on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'' about the status of retiring, Glover said he was unsure and may continue to perform after the ''This Is America Tour''. Glover was expected to release another album per the RCA Records contract he signed in January 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/donald-glover-update-on-future-of-childish-gambino-2526873|title=Donald Glover offers fresh hope for the future of Childish Gambino|work=NME|last=Moore|first=Sam|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105110136/https://www.nme.com/news/music/donald-glover-update-on-future-of-childish-gambino-2526873|archive-date=November 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2020: Surprise fourth album===

On March 15, 2020, Glover streamed his [[Surprise album|surprise]] fourth album on his website Donald Glover Presents, where it played on a loop for twelve hours until it was taken down. [[21 Savage]] and [[Ariana Grande]] feature on the album.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/donald-glover-surprise-release-new-album-967548/|title=Donald Glover Surprise Releases Collection Of New Music|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=March 15, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref> The album was released on digital services the following week under the name ''[[3.15.20]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcarecords.com/news/donald-glover-presents-3-15-20/|title=Donald Glover Presents "3.15.20"|website=RCA Records|language=en|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> It was well received by music critics and debuted at number 13 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard ''200]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/childish-gambino/chart-history/tlp/|title=Childish Gambino|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Nash|first1=Brad|url=https://www.gq.com.au/entertainment/music/picking-the-highlights-from-childish-gambinos-latest-album/news-story/d73c5d9e04eef3a16c64b2eae7ef9fb1|title=Picking The Highlights From Childish Gambino's Latest Album|work=[[GQ Australia]]|date=March 23, 2020|access-date=October 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324065233/https://www.gq.com.au/entertainment/music/picking-the-highlights-from-childish-gambinos-latest-album/news-story/d73c5d9e04eef3a16c64b2eae7ef9fb1|archive-date=March 24, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, in a rare appearance on his [[Twitter]] account, Glover opined that seasons 3 and 4 of ''Atlanta'' would be on the caliber of ''[[The Sopranos]]'' and that his next musical project would be his "biggest by far".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/donald-glover-only-the-sopranos-can-touch-atlanta-seasons-three-four-2810948|title=Donald Glover says only 'The Sopranos' can touch 'Atlanta' seasons three and four|work=NME|date=November 6, 2020|last=Daly|first=Rhian|publisher=Band Lab Technologies}}</ref>

===2024–present: ''Atavista'' and ''Bando Stone & the New World'' soundtrack===

In April 2024, during a radio stream by Glover's production company GILGA, Glover revealed plans to re-release ''3.15.20'' as a "finished" album called ''[[Atavista]]'', as well as announcing the existence of a new album. Glover said the latter would be the final Childish Gambino album and would act as a soundtrack to an upcoming film called ''Bando Stone & the New World''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2024 |title=Donald Glover Lays Out The Plan For His Last 2 Childish Gambino Albums |url=https://uproxx.com/music/donald-glover-final-childish-gambino-album-bando-stone/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=April 15, 2024 |title=Childish Gambino Announces Final Two New Albums, Plays New Music on Instagram Live |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/childish-gambino-donald-glover-atavista-bando-stone-and-the-new-world-albums-1235004442/ |access-date=April 15, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Later in the month, Glover previewed a track featuring a [[Kanye West]] verse on his Gilga Radio show.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cartter|first=Eileen|url=https://www.gq.com/story/childish-gambino-kanye-new-song-gilga-radio-gq-best-dressed|title=Donald Glover Claims He's "GQ Best Dressed" on Upcoming Ye Track|work=[[GQ]]|date=April 23, 2024|accessdate=April 25, 2024}}</ref>

On May 13, 2024, Glover released ''Atavista''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=Bethy |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Childish Gambino Drops Surprise Album Atavista |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/childish-gambino-atavista-surprise-album.html |access-date=May 13, 2024 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref> Glover announced [[The New World Tour (Childish Gambino)|The New World Tour]] in support of both albums in July 2024 and released the [[Bando Stone & the New World|soundtrack to ''Bando Stone & the New World'']] later that month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |date=July 2, 2024 |title=Childish Gambino Announces Release Date for Final Album 'Bando Stone & The New World,' Releases First Single 'Lithonia' |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/childish-gambino-bando-stone-and-the-new-world-lithonia-release-date-1236059144/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Childish Gambino Announces Massive 2024 Tour |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/childish-gambino-announces-massive-2024-tour/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the release of ''Bando Stone & the New World'', he explained the retirement of the Childish Gambino moniker was due to the logistics of making albums with his film, television and family obligations as well as working on the creative incubator, Gilga.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ugwu |first=Reggie |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Why Donald Glover Is Saying Goodbye to Childish Gambino |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/arts/music/donald-glover-childish-gambino-bando-stone.html |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 4, 2024, Glover announced on [[Twitter]] that he has cancelled the remaining shows for The New World Tour due to surgery and recovery for an undisclosed ailment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2024 |title=Donald Glover cancels remaining Childish Gambino tour dates over health concerns |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/donald-glover-childish-gambino-tour-canceled-illness-rcna174111 |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> He did a rap verse on [[Jennie (singer)|Jennie]]'s "Damn Right" from ''[[Ruby (Jennie album)|Ruby]]'', alongside [[Kali Uchis]].

== Influences ==
In an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Glover stated, "I'm influenced by [[LCD Soundsystem]] as much as [[Ghostface Killah]]. A lot of the rap shows I saw as a kid were boring, but if you went to a [[Rage Against the Machine]] show or a [[Justice (band)|Justice]] show, the kids were losing their minds. Kids just want to go nuts, [[Odd Future]] know that. People want to experience something physical."<ref>{{Cite news|author=Fitzpatrick, Rob|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/dec/08/donald-glover-childish-gambino-camp|title=how Childish Gambino faces down rap stereotypes|date=December 8, 2011|access-date=May 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904201213/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/dec/08/donald-glover-childish-gambino-camp|archive-date=September 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He also cites hip-hop duo [[Outkast]] and trio [[Migos]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Duboff|first1=Josh|title=The Best Stuff on Earth, According to Donald Glover: Sarah Paulson, 'Bootylicious,' and More|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/donald-glover-favorite-things|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=February 17, 2018|date=November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704134358/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/donald-glover-favorite-things|archive-date=July 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Levine|first1=Nick|title=Watch Donald Glover thank Migos for 'Bad And Boujee' as he accepts Golden Globe|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-donald-glover-thank-migos-bad-boujee-accepts-golden-globe-1940254|website=[[NME]]|access-date=February 17, 2018|date=January 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217082740/http://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-donald-glover-thank-migos-bad-boujee-accepts-golden-globe-1940254|archive-date=February 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and funk band [[Funkadelic]] as being influences.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Weiner|first1=Jonah|title=Hot Off 'Atlanta,' Donald Glover Prepares for 'Star Wars' & Childish Gambino's Funkadelic-Inspired Return|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7580497/donald-glover-childish-gambino-atlanta-star-wars|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 17, 2018|date=November 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417235250/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7580497/donald-glover-childish-gambino-atlanta-star-wars|archive-date=April 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Glover has influenced a number of younger musicians and actors. Rapper [[Vince Staples]] has praised Glover's ability to "[do] something different every time".<ref>{{cite news|author1=Coscarelli, Joe|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/arts/music/vince-staples-interview-big-fish-theory.html|title=Vince Staples Prefers to Speak Only for Himself|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 7, 2017|access-date=July 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706020300/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/arts/music/vince-staples-interview-big-fish-theory.html|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Glover began dating Michelle White in 2015;<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/07/16/lion-king-donald-glover-redid-simba-lines-after-losing-dad/1728489001/|first=Andrea |last=Mandell|date=July 16, 2019|title=Donald Glover: From redoing Simba after losing his father to his funny Blue Ivy encounter|work=[[USA Today]]| access-date=July 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718221103/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/07/16/lion-king-donald-glover-redid-simba-lines-after-losing-dad/1728489001/|archive-date=July 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> they married in January 2024, during the production of ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024 TV series)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'', with Glover going to the production immediately after.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Lacey |date=February 7, 2024 |title=Donald Glover and Maya Erskine on Real-Life Marriage, Professional Divorce and When to Walk Away |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/donald-glover-maya-erskine-interview-marriage-mr-and-mrs-smith-1235817327/ |access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>Clack, Erin (February 7, 2024)[https://people.com/donald-glover-reveals-he-went-back-to-work-same-day-he-got-married-8563847 "Donald Glover Reveals He Got Married — Then Went Straight Back to Work on Mr. & Mrs. Smith the Same Day"] Retrieved February 7, 2024.</ref> They have three sons, born in early 2016,<ref name=USAToday/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2017/06/donald-glover-hints-at-final-childish-gambino-album-during-governors-ball-set|title=Donald Glover Hints at Final Childish Gambino Album During Governor's Ball Set|website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] AU|access-date=July 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709133544/http://www.complex.com/music/2017/06/donald-glover-hints-at-final-childish-gambino-album-during-governors-ball-set|archive-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/donald-glover-welcomes-second-child-son/|title=Donald Glover Welcomes a Son|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|last=Juneau|first=Jen|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813230246/https://people.com/parents/donald-glover-welcomes-second-child-son/|archive-date=August 13, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/michaela-coel-donald-glover-in-conversation|title=An Extraordinary Conversation Between Michaela Coel and Donald Glover|last=Heaf|first=Jonathan|date=September 29, 2020|work=British GQ|quote= My son had just been born, like, an hour before and I was watching the George Floyd video.}}</ref>

Glover has implied that he is [[spiritual but not religious]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://genius.com/2510143 | title=@ChildishGambino / I don't really believe in religion for myself. I've become spiritual, more at peace with things. But i don't believe in god. Not like that }}</ref> In December 2019, he endorsed [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2020 Democratic candidate]] [[Andrew Yang]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=December 18, 2019 |title=Donald Glover Endorses Democratic Candidate Andrew Yang, Team Up for Los Angeles Pop-Up Event |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/politics/8546729/donald-glover-endorses-andrew-yang |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219022722/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/politics/8546729/donald-glover-endorses-andrew-yang |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=December 18, 2019 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and joined his [[Andrew Yang 2020 presidential campaign|campaign]] as a creative consultant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Martin |date=December 19, 2019 |title=Donald Glover joining Yang's campaign as creative consultant |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/475398-donald-glover-joining-yangs-campaign-as-creative-consultant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220013222/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/475398-donald-glover-joining-yangs-campaign-as-creative-consultant |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

Glover is known as a private person and rarely posts on [[social media]] or does interviews unless for promotional work. In an interview with ''[[The New Yorker]]'', he said that social media made him feel "less human" and that he only visits online discussion pages in which he can stay anonymous and communicate with people who understand what he is saying.<ref name="The New Yorker">{{cite magazine |last1=Friend |first1=Tad |title=Donald Glover Can't Save You |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/donald-glover-cant-save-you |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |language=en |date=February 26, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504001858/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/donald-glover-cant-save-you |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Discography==

{{Main|Childish Gambino discography}}
<!-- Per [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians/Article guidelines]], The discography section of the musician's primary article should "provide a summary of the musician's major works. In most cases this is done using a simple list of their studio albums, leaving a complete listing of releases to the discography article." -->
<!--Studio albums only. Everything else should go on the discography page.-->
* ''[[Camp (album)|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 (Childish Gambino)|The New World Tour]] (2024)

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Actor
! Director
! Writer
! Producer
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Mystery Team]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes|Executive}}
| Jason Rogers
| Also composer
|-
| 2011
| ''{{sortname|The|Muppets|The Muppets (2011 film)}}''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Junior CDE Executive
| Cameo
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| ''{{sortname|The|To Do List|The To Do List}}''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Derrick
|
|- 
| ''[[Clapping for the Wrong Reasons]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes|Executive}}
| The Boy
| Short film
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (film)|Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Greg
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2015
| ''[[The Lazarus Effect (2015 film)|The Lazarus Effect]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Niko
|
|-
| ''[[Magic Mike XXL]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Andre
|
|-
| ''[[The Martian (film)|The Martian]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Rich Purnell
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Spider-Man: Homecoming]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Prowler (Marvel Comics)|Aaron Davis]]
|
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Solo: A Star Wars Story]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Lando Calrissian]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| ''[[Guava Island]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Partial|Story}}
| {{Yes}}
| Deni Maroon
| Also soundtrack
|-
| ''[[The Lion King (2019 film)|The Lion King]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Simba|Adult Simba]]
| Voice role
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Aaron Davis / Prowler
| Live-action cameo
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Mufasa: The Lion King]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Simba
| Voice role
|-
| {{TBA}}
| ''[[Bando Stone & the New World (film)|Bando Stone & the New World]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Bando Stone
| Also soundtrack
|}

===Television===
<!--do NOT add rowspans to this table per WP:FILMOGRAPHY-->
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Actor
! Writer
! Executive<br>producer
! Director
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Various
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2006–2012
| ''[[30 Rock]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Various
| 4 episodes as actor<br>22 episodes as an executive story editor and wrote episode: "[[Episode 210]]"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Human Giant]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| College Webcam Guy
| Episode: "24 Hour Marathon"
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Live at Gotham]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Himself
| Episode: "4.6"
|-
| 2009–2014
| ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[List of Community characters#Troy Barnes|Troy Barnes]]
| 89 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| ''[[Robot Chicken]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Mace Windu]] 
| Voice; Episode: "[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III]]"
|-
| ''[[Comedy Central Presents]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Himself
| Stand-up special
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Regular Show]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Alpha Dog
| Voice; Episode: "Rap It Up"
|-
| 2012
| ''Donald Glover: Weirdo''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| Himself
| Stand-up special
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| ''[[Sesame Street]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| LMNOP
| Episode: "Figure It Out, Baby Figure It Out"
|-
| ''[[Girls (TV series)|Girls]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Sandy
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2013–2016
| ''[[Adventure Time]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Marceline the Vampire Queen#Other|Marshall Lee]]
| Voice; 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Miles Morales|Miles Morales / Spider-Man]]
| Voice; 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[China, IL]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| William "Transfer Billy" 
| Voice; 4 episodes
|-
| 2016, 2018, 2022
| ''[[Atlanta (TV series)|Atlanta]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Earnest "Earn" Marks<br/>"Teddy Perkins" for [[Teddy Perkins|one episode]]<br/>"Mr. Chocolate" for [[Work Ethic!|one episode]]
| 41 episodes; Also creator
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Himself (host/musical guest)
| Episode: "Donald Glover/Childish Gambino"
|-
| rowspan="3" |2023
|''[[Swarm (TV series)|Swarm]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{n/a}}
| 7 episodes; Also creator
|-
| ''[[The Eric Andre Show]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Himself
| Episode: "Woodchipper Hijinks"
|-
| ''[[Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| [[Marceline the Vampire Queen#Other|Marshall Lee]]
| Voice
|-
| 2024–present
| ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024 TV series)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| John Smith
| Also creator
|}

===Music videos===
{{Further|Childish Gambino discography#Music videos}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=10 | Year
! width=350 | Title
! width=200 | Album
! width=225 | Director
|-
| 2012
| "Giants"<br /><small>([[Josh Osho]] featuring Childish Gambino)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfab2CJ64mk|title=Josh Osho – Giants ft. Childish Gambino|date=April 10, 2012 |via=YouTube|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221053819/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfab2CJ64mk|archive-date=February 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ''L.I.F.E.''
| Jordan Bahat
|-
| rowspan="2"|2013
| "Bed Peace"<br /><small>([[Jhené Aiko]] featuring Childish Gambino)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoIpx1ZxFeM|title=Jhené Aiko – Bed Peace (Explicit) ft. Childish Gambino|date=October 28, 2013 |via=YouTube|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916140050/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoIpx1ZxFeM|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ''[[Sail Out]]''
| Danny Williams
|-
| "Relations (Remix)"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.26233/title.kenna-releases-childish-gambino-assisted-relations-video/|title=Kenna Releases Childish Gambino-Assisted "Relations" Video|website=Hiphopdx.com|access-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224085846/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.26233/title.kenna-releases-childish-gambino-assisted-relations-video|archive-date=February 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><br /><small>([[Kenna]] featuring Childish Gambino)</small>
| ''Land 2 Air Chronicles II: Imitation Is Suicide Chapter 1''
| Jason Chen
|-
| 2014
| "The Pressure"<br /><small>([[Jhené Aiko]])</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bumpN0Mhw|title=Jhené Aiko – The Pressure (Explicit)|date=September 2, 2014 |via=YouTube|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801194306/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bumpN0Mhw|archive-date=August 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ''[[Souled Out (Jhené Aiko album)|Souled Out]]''
| Childish Gambino
|-
| 2015
| "Gahdamn"<br /><small>([[Kari Faux]])</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKW6d8vmRmw|title=Kari Faux – Gahdamn (Official Video)|date=January 14, 2015 |via=YouTube|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606041649/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKW6d8vmRmw|archive-date=June 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ''Laugh Now, Die Later''
| [[Calmatic]]
|-
| 2018
| "Garden (Say It Like Dat)" {{small|([[SZA]])}}
| ''[[Ctrl (SZA album)|Ctrl]]''
| [[Karena Evans]]
|-
|}

===Web videos===
<!--do NOT add rowspans to this table per WP:FILMOGRAPHY-->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2006–2010
| [[Derrick Comedy]] videos
| Various characters
| Also writer, composer and executive producer
|-
| 2009
| ''I Am Tiger Woods''
| [[Tiger Woods]]
| [[Funny or Die]] short<ref>{{cite web|title=I Am Tiger Woods|url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/a4820e5cbc/i-am-tiger-woods|publisher=[[Funny Or Die]]|access-date=February 12, 2018|date=December 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212142201/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/a4820e5cbc/i-am-tiger-woods|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]: Abed's Master Key''
| Troy Barnes (voice)
| [[Webisode]]
|-
| 2020
| ''Donald Glover Presents''
| Himself
| Also writer
|-
|2024
|''[[Hot Ones]]'' {{small|(guest appearance)}}
|Himself
|
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
* [[List of black Golden Globe Award winners and nominees]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q1239933|c=category:Donald Glover|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|wikt=no|s=no|q=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/c/childishgambino Donald Glover] on [[YouTube]]
* {{Twitter|donaldglover|Donald Glover}}
* {{Instagram|donaldglover|Donald Glover}}
* {{SoundCloud|childish-gambino}}
* {{IMDb name|2255973}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b39qk4 2018 Profile of Glover] on [[BBC Radio Four]]

{{Childish Gambino|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Donald Glover|Awards for Donald Glover]]
|list =
{{BET Award for Video of the Year}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series}}
{{Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyLeadActor}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyDirector}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor TV Comedy}}
{{Grammy Award for Record of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Social Message}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video}}
{{TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy}}
}}
{{Ludwig Göransson|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glover, Donald}}
[[Category:Donald Glover| ]]
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:Actors from Kern County, California]]
[[Category:Actors from San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:African-American film producers]]
[[Category:African-American male comedians]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:African-American record producers]]
[[Category:African-American screenwriters]]
[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:African-American television producers]]
[[Category:African-American television writers]]
[[Category:Television writers from California]]
[[Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:American comedy rappers]]
[[Category:American hip-hop record producers]]
[[Category:American hip-hop singers]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:American tenors]]
[[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (television) winners]]
[[Category:Comedians from California]]
[[Category:Comedians from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Film producers from California]]
[[Category:Former Jehovah's Witnesses]]
[[Category:Glassnote Records artists]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:MTV Video Music Award winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Lancaster, California]]
[[Category:People from Stone Mountain, Georgia]]
[[Category:Psychedelic soul musicians]]
[[Category:Rappers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Rappers from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:RCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Record producers from California]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Southern hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Surreal comedians]]
[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:Television producers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]