# Taye Diggs

Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (né Berry; born January 2, 1971) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the Broadway musicals Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the TV series Private Practice (2007–2013), Murder in the First (2014–2016), and All American (2018–2023), and the films How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), Brown Sugar, Chicago (both 2002), Malibu's Most Wanted (2003), Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2011), and The Best Man (1999) and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday (2013).

## Early life

Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in the South Wedge neighborhood of Rochester, New York. His mother, Marcia (née Berry), was a teacher and actress, and his father, Andre Young, was a visual artist. When he was a child, his mother married Jeffries Diggs, whose surname Taye took. His nickname, Taye, comes from the playful pronunciation of Scotty as "Scottay". He is the oldest of five children. He has two brothers, Gabriel and Michael, and two sisters, Christian and Shalom. He attended Allendale Columbia School in Rochester and later transferred to School of the Arts. He received a BFA in musical theater in 1993 from Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Diggs performed many times at the popular Lakes Region Summer Theatre in Meredith, New Hampshire. He also spent the summer of 1992 at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, New Hampshire. His Broadway debut was in the ensemble cast of the 1994 Tony Award-winning revival of the musical Carousel. In 1995, he also performed as a dancer in Sebastian's Caribbean Carnival at Tokyo Disneyland.

## Career

In 1996, Diggs originated the role of the landlord Benny in Jonathan Larson's Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Rent, which also starred his future wife, Idina Menzel. After Rent, he appeared as Mr. Black opposite Menzel's character of Kate in Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway production of The Wild Party at Manhattan Theatre Club. Diggs also played The Bandleader in the 2002 film version of the Broadway revival of Chicago and filled in as Billy Flynn on Broadway. He also temporarily filled in for Norbert Leo Butz (an original Rent standby) as the love interest Fiyero of Menzel's Elphaba character in Wicked.
Diggs then moved from stage to television with a role on the soap opera Guiding Light. In 1998, he made his film debut in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, which brought Diggs much acclaim and exposure. The following year, he played a tantric sex god in Doug Liman's Go, and AWOL groom in the coming-of-age drama The Wood alongside Omar Epps. Malcolm D. Lee's The Best Man features Diggs as the title character, an author and best friend of the groom (portrayed by Morris Chestnut).
He also starred in the 1999 remake of William Castle's House on Haunted Hill. Diggs was featured in an episode of America's Next Top Model helping the contestants through an acting challenge. Another notable role of his was on the comedy-drama Ally McBeal as a lawyer named Jackson Duper who was the love interest of the character Renee Raddick and the possible love interest of the Ling Woo character.
Diggs portrayed the title character on the short-lived UPN television series Kevin Hill which despite critical acclaim was not renewed for a second season. He reprised the role of Benny for the 2005 Rent film. Diggs is featured on the following cast recordings: Carousel 1994 revival cast; Rent 1996 original Broadway cast; The Wild Party original off-Broadway cast. He also sings on the Rent film soundtrack. In 2002, he reprised his role as the Bandleader in the film adaptation of Chicago, and also played opposite Christian Bale as Bale's partner/antagonist Brandt in the dystopian sci-fi thriller Equilibrium.
In 2003, Diggs appeared on the TV show Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher, while getting a check-up at a Punk'd-operated doctor's office. In early 2006, Diggs guest-starred for several episodes as Will Truman's love interest, James, on the eighth season of Will & Grace. In May, ABC picked up his pilot, Day Break, in which he portrayed a detective trapped in the same day and forced to relive it to clear his name of murder; the show debuted in mid-November 2006, but was abruptly canceled due to poor ratings. Although his film and television career continue to move forward, he still returns to the stage frequently. He was seen opposite James McDaniel in Charles Fuller's A Soldier's Play at Second Stage Theatre in New York.
Diggs co-starred as Sam Bennett opposite Kate Walsh in Private Practice, the spin-off of Grey's Anatomy, which ran for six seasons from 2007 until 2013. Diggs had a guest role on The West Wing as a Secret Service agent in charge of the security detail for the President's daughter. He then guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy again in a Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover event. Diggs had a major role in the live action adaptation of the comic Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2011). He also narrated the ESPN Films documentary The Fab Five about University of Michigan basketball players Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. Diggs is one of the stars of the independent film drama Between Us that won the grand jury prize at the 2012 Bahamas International Film Festival among its other festival appearances.
From 2014 until 2016, Diggs starred in the TNT serial crime drama Murder in the First with Kathleen Robertson. The show ran for three seasons. Diggs is the author of four children's books, Mixed Me! (2015), Chocolate Me (2015), I Love You More Than... (2018), and My Friend! (2021), all illustrated by Shane Evans (artist). Diggs performed the role of the titular character Hedwig in the Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Belasco Theatre from July 22, 2015, until the production's closing on September 13, 2015. In 2017, Diggs appeared in the films 'Til Death Do Us Part and My Little Pony: The Movie, where he voices Capper the cat.
Diggs has twice appeared on Paramount Network's reality competition series Lip Sync Battle and is the show's only two-time winner. In a third-season episode against Ne-Yo, Diggs sang his competitor's song "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" and then performed as Madonna for round two's performance of "Vogue". In his next appearance, the fourth season's Christina Aguilera tribute episode, he competed against Erika Jayne, performing "Beautiful" and "Candyman".
Diggs hosted the game show Hypnotize Me with hypnotist Keith Barry, based on Barry's British program You're Back in the Room. Hypnotize Me was originally shot for broadcast on FOX in 2016, but never aired on the network. The eight-episode series was eventually broadcast on The CW, in the summer of 2019. Diggs starred in the horror film Incarnation alongside Jessica Uberuaga and Michael Madsen, the film was released in 2022. In 2023, Diggs co-starred alongside Apryl Jones in the Peacock streaming film The Comeback. Diggs also starred in BET+ films two part series in 2023 Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy , with part one releasing on September 21 and the second part releasing on September 28. Diggs starred and was executive producer alongside Meagan Good in Terry McMillan Presents: Forever which premiered on Lifetime on August 24, 2024.
Taye Diggs makes money from his films and acting career, singing and writing. With his successful career, his net worth is estimated to be around $16 million.
In 2025, Taye Diggs starred in the Lifetime short film I'll Be Home for Margarita Day with Maria Menounos which was presented by Chili's.

## Personal life

Diggs is the co-artistic director of a dance company, Dre.dance, with fellow Broadway veteran and School of the Arts alumnus Andrew Palermo.
Diggs married his Rent co-star, actress Idina Menzel, on January 11, 2003. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009. In 2013, the couple separated after ten years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized on December 3, 2014.
In 2014, Diggs began a relationship with real estate agent Amanza Smith. They split in 2019.
From 2021 to 2023, Diggs was in a relationship with Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star Apryl Jones, who is the mother of singer Omarion's children.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Winston Shakespeare | Nominated—Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Actor |
| 1999 | Go | Marcus | |
| 1999 | The Wood | Roland | |
| 1999 | The Best Man | Harper Stewart | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture |
| 1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Eddie Baker | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor – Horror |
| 2000 | The Way of the Gun | Jeffers | |
| 2002 | New Best Friend | Sheriff Artie Bonner | |
| 2002 | Just a Kiss | Andre | Uncredited |
| 2002 | Brown Sugar | Andre Romulus 'Dre' Ellis | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry (with Sanaa Lathan) Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock (with Sanaa Lathan) |
| 2002 | Equilibrium | Andrew Brandt | |
| 2002 | Chicago | The Bandleader | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast |
| 2003 | Basic | Jay Pike | |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Sean (aka Blood Bath) | |
| 2004 | Drum | Henry Nxumalo | |
| 2005 | Rent | Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III | Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast |
| 2005 | Cake | Hemingway Jones | |
| 2007 | Slow Burn | Jeffrey Sykes | |
| 2008 | Days of Wrath | Steve Lerato | |
| 2010 | Our Family Wedding | Whipped Friend | Uncredited |
| 2011 | Dylan Dog: Dead of Night | Vampire Vargas | |
| 2011 | The Fab Five | Narrator | |
| 2012 | Between Us | Carlo | |
| 2013 | The Best Man Holiday | Harper Stewart | Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Cast |
| 2013 | Baggage Claim | Langston Jefferson Battle III | Nominated—Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Cast |
| 2015 | Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant | Rasta Cab Driver | |
| 2016 | Opening Night | Malcolm | |
| 2017 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Capper | Voice |
| 2017 | 'Til Death Do Us Part | Alex Stone | Also producer |
| 2018 | Set It Up | Rick | |
| 2018 | River Runs Red | Charles Coleman Sr. | |
| 2022 | Incarnation | Brad | |
| 2023 | The Comeback | Jeff Murray | Also executive producer |
| 2025 | Both Eyes Open | Dr. Eric Murphy | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Stephon | Episode: "No Greater Love" |
| 1996 | Law & Order | Sky Bell | Episode: "Good Girl" |
| 1997 | Guiding Light | Adrian "Sugar" Hill | Unknown episodes |
| 1997 | 101 Dalmatians: The Series | Dre (voice) | Episode: "He Followed Me Home" |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Jackson Duper | 10 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series |
| 2003 | Punk'd | Himself | Episode: "2.5" |
| 2003 | Ed | Himself | Episode: "Captain Lucidity" |
| 2003 | The West Wing | Secret Service Agent Wesley Davis | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | America's Next Top Model | Himself | Episode: "The Girls Meet Taye Diggs" |
| 2004–2005 | Kevin Hill | Kevin Hill | 22 episodes and also producer NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2006 | Will & Grace | James | 4 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Day Break | Detective Brett Hopper | 13 episodes and also producer |
| 2007–2009 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Sam Bennett | 3 episodes |
| 2007–2013 | Private Practice | Dr. Sam Bennett | 111 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2010, 2012) Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama Actor |
| 2009 | The Super Hero Squad Show | Black Panther (voice) | Episode: "Tremble at the Might of M.O.D.O.K.!" |
| 2009 | Better Off Ted | Greg | Episode: "Love Blurts" |
| 2010 | Black Panther | Historical Panther #2 (voice) | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2010, 2014 | Sesame Street | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | New Girl | Artie | Episode: "Coach" |
| 2014–2016 | Murder in the First | Inspector Terrance English | 32 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Actor |
| 2014 | The Good Wife | Dean Levine-Wilkins | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Repeat After Me | Himself | Episode: "#1.8" |
| 2015–2017 | Doc McStuffins | Declan (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Rosewood | Mike Boyce | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | NCIS | USMC Gunnery Sergeant Aaron Davis | Episode: "Scope" |
| 2016–2017 | Empire | Councilman Angelo DuBois | 23 episodes |
| 2017, 2018 | Lip Sync Battle | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2018–2024 | All American | Head Coach Billy Baker | Main cast |
| 2019 | Rent: Live | Himself | Television special |
| 2019 | Selling Sunset | Himself | Episode: "(Real) Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" |
| 2019 | Hypnotize Me | Himself | 8 episodes |
| 2019 | Elena of Avalor | Sanza (voice) | Episode: "Flower of Light" |
| 2020 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Himself | Episode: "Taye Diggs" |
| 2020 | Muppets Now | Himself | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | The Celebrity Dating Game | Himself | Episode: "Taye Diggs and Demi Burnett" |
| 2021 | Ada Twist, Scientist | Mr. Twist (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 2022 | The Best Man: The Final Chapters | Harper Stewart | Main cast |
| 2022 | Back in the Groove | Himself | Host 8 episodes |
| 2023 | S.W.A.T. | Danny | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 2023 | Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy | Lance Herndon | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Alert: Missing Persons Unit | Himself | Episode: "Federal Prisoner #07198F-068P" |
| 2024 | Ariel | King Triton (voice) | Main role |
| 2024 | Terry McMillian Presents: Forever | Johniee | Also executive producer |
| 2025 | Robogobo | Pupsicle (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | I'll Be Home for Margarita Day | Sam | Television short |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Artist(s) |
| 1995 | "Temptations" | 2pac |
| 2002 | "Boys" | Britney Spears featuring Pharrell Williams |
| 2014 | "Imagine" (UNICEF: World version) | Various |

### Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Carousel | Policeman / Cyrus Hamlin u/s Jigger Craigin | Broadway |
| 1996 | Rent | Benjamin Coffin III | Off-Broadway |
| 1996-1997 | Rent | Benjamin Coffin III | Broadway |
| 2000 | The Wild Party | Mr. Black | Off-Broadway |
| 2002 | Chicago | Billy Flynn | Broadway |
| 2003–2004 | Wicked | Fiyero Tigelaar | Broadway |
| 2005 | A Soldier's Play | Captain Richard Davenport | Off-Broadway |
| 2015 | Hedwig and the Angry Inch | Hedwig Robinson | Broadway |
| 2018 | Beauty and the Beast | Gaston | Hollywood Bowl |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1999 | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Actor | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Nominated |
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Supporting Actor – Horror | House on Haunted Hill | Won |
| 2000 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | The Best Man | Nominated |
| 2002 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Ally McBeal | Nominated |
| 2003 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast | Chicago | Won |
| 2003 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Brown Sugar | Nominated |
| 2003 | Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Cast | Chicago | Nominated |
| 2003 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Chemistry (with Sanaa Lathan) | Brown Sugar | Nominated |
| 2003 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Liplock (with Sanaa Lathan) | Brown Sugar | Nominated |
| 2003 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Chicago | Won |
| 2005 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Kevin Hill | Won |
| 2006 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cast | Rent | Nominated |
| 2008 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Private Practice | Nominated |
| 2009 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Private Practice | Won |
| 2010 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Private Practice | Nominated |
| 2011 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Drama Actor | Private Practice | Nominated |
| 2012 | NAACP Image Awards | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Private Practice | Nominated |
| 2013 | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Cast | Baggage Claim | Nominated |
| 2013 | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Cast | The Best Man Holiday | Won |
| 2015 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Murder in the First | Nominated |
| 2016 | 42nd People's Choice Awards | Favorite Cable TV Actor | Murder in the First | Nominated |

## In popular culture

* In 2012, in the "Dr. Klaustus" episode of the animated series American Dad!, the character Roger sees a picture of Diggs in a magazine and comments that he is "still perfect". He refers to Diggs as "my constant, my ebony north star".
* On the NBC series Parks and Recreation, Diggs is often referenced by character Tom Haverford, who likens himself to Diggs. He also fantasizes about co-owning a burlesque nightclub with Diggs and two of the Pussycat Dolls.
* On the NBC series 30 Rock, Diggs is referenced as a male-excellence example by Jack Donaghy: "If I were dating a man he would be at the top of my list, with Michael Jordan, Denzel Washington."
* On the ABC/TBS television series Cougar Town, the character Laurie Keller is shown to have a crush on Diggs. She describes his smile as one that "lights up the world" and has numerous pictures of him in her apartment.
* Season 4 episode 10 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: the only people who follow Fran's girlfriend Monica on Twitter are her mother "and, of course, Taye Diggs".