Donald Glover is known for starring in series and movies like The Martian, Mystery Team, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Community. But he’s best known for the TV series Atlanta (2016–22) and the music he released under Childish Gambino.
Glover comes from a very humble background. He grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where his father was a postal worker and his mother a day-care manager. He started from down-to-earth origins – making comedy sketches for YouTube. And now he’s living the best of his life.
The Community alum was influenced by listening to all kinds of music in genres like electronic, indie, rock, hip-hop, and rap. Actors like Tina Fey and Denzel Washington inspired him the most. But the one he looked up to the most once told him he was a “diversity hire,” which made him to suffer intense imposter syndrome.
“It definitely didn’t feel like I was supposed to be there” – Donald Glover
Donald Glover is the writer of 30 Rock. He started writing for the series back in 2006. In an interview with GQ, he reflected on his time on the comedy series when Elizabeth Stamatina “Tina” Fey (show’s creator and lead) said he was selected to do the series on the basis of diversity hiring. The actor told GQ in April’s cover story:
“It definitely didn’t feel like I was supposed to be there.”
He then continued:
“I used to have stress dreams every night where I was doing cartwheels on the top of a New York skyscraper with the other writers watching me.”
The actor said that later, he got to know that he was only hired on a diversity basis. He added:
“There is no animosity between us or anything like that, but [Tina Fey] said it herself… It was a diversity thing.”
Glover said he and Kenya Barris were the last two people fighting for the job. He didn’t know it was between him and Barris until Barris hit him one day and was like, ‘I hated you for years!’”
In 2018’s New Yorker Profile, Fey confirmed that she admired Glover’s talent but hired him because funds from NBC’s Diversity Initiative “made him free.”
Tracy Morgan Appreciated Donald Glover for His Exceptional Writing Skills
Donald Glover landed a writing role on the Emmy-winning comedy sitcom when he was just 23 years old. The young writer suffered imposter syndrome at that time for various reasons (especially knowing that he was a diversity hire).
But people like Tracy Morgan, who played Tracy Jordan on the show, told GQ that Glover’s work was hilarious. He said:
“When I first read his writing during 30 Rock, I was like, ‘He’s got it.’ The things he wrote for me made me very funny. He got me nominated…twice!”
Despite the reason behind the hiring, Glover has proven himself one of the brightest Hollywood young writers, thanks to 30 Rock. The actor has also created, written, produced, directed, and starred in the award-winning TV series Atlanta, which received much love from critics.
Watch 30 Rock on Prime Video.
Source: GQ
