Rash and Faxon wrote the screenplay for '' The Descendants '' , based on the novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings . The script appeared on the 2008 edition of the Black List , which lists the most popular unproduced scripts in Hollywood at that time . The film was produced in Hawaii and starred George Clooney ; it was released on November 18 , 2011 to critical acclaim . The film received a Golden Globe nomination and won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay . Rash and Faxon co-wrote and directed the film '' The Way Way Back '' , which received a standing ovation at its premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival . Parts of the film are based on Rash 's teenage life . Rash is also a member of the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings . Since 2017 , he has been the official voice actor for Donald Duck universe character Gyro Gearloose in the reboot of '' Ducktales '' , taking over the role from Hal Smith who died in 1994
Academy Award
84th Academy Awards
Jim Rash