Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (born January 2, 1971) is an American actor and singer, known for his roles in Private Practice, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and Brown Sugar. He portrayed Billy Baker on All American.
Biography[]
Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in Rochester, New York. His mother, Marcia (née Berry), was a teacher and actress, and his father, Andre Young, is 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 from Syracuse University.
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.
Diggs married actress Idina Menzel, his Rent co-star, on January 11, 2003. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009. In 2013, Diggs and Menzel separated after ten years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized on December 3, 2014.
Diggs dated Selling Sunset cast member Amanza Smith for five years, splitting in 2018.
Diggs is the co-artistic director of a dance company, Dre.dance, with fellow Broadway veteran and School of the Arts alumnus Andrew Palermo
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Winston Shakespeare | |
| 1999 | Go | Marcus | |
| The Wood | Roland | ||
| The Best Man | Harper Stewart | ||
| House on Haunted Hill | Eddie Baker | ||
| 2000 | The Way of the Gun | Jeffers | |
| 2002 | New Best Friend | Artie Bonner | |
| Just a Kiss | Andre | Uncredited | |
| Brown Sugar | Andre Romulus 'Dre' Ellis | ||
| Equilibrium | Andrew Brandt | ||
| Chicago | The Bandleader | ||
| 2003 | Basic | Jay Pike | |
| Malibu's Most Wanted | Sean (aka Blood Bath) | ||
| 2004 | Drum | Henry Nxumalo | |
| 2005 | Rent | Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III | |
| 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 | |
| The Fab Five | Narrator | ||
| 2012 | Between Us | Carlo | |
| 2013 | The Best Man Holiday | Harper Stewart | |
| Baggage Claim | Langston Jefferson Battle III | ||
| 2015 | Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant | Rasta Cab Driver | |
| 2016 | Opening Night | Malcolm | |
| 2017 | My Little Pony: The Movie | Capper | Voice |
| 'Til Death Do Us Part | Alex Stone | ||
| 2018 | Set It Up | Rick | |
| 2018 | River Runs Red | Charles Coleman, Sr. | |
| 2022 | Incarnation | Brad | |
| 2023 | The Comeback | Jeff Murray | Also executive producer |
| 2024 | Terry McMillian Presents: Forever | Johniee | Also executive producer |
| 2025 | Both Eyes Open | Dr. Eric Murphy |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Stephon | Episode: "No Greater Love" |
| 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 |
| 2003 | Punk'd | Himself | Episode: "2.5" |
| Ed | Episode: "Captain Lucidity" | ||
| 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 |
| 2006 | Will & Grace | James | 4 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Day Break | Detective Brett Hopper | 13 episodes |
| 2007–2009 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Sam Bennett | 3 episodes |
| 2007–2013 | Private Practice | 111 episodes | |
| 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 | Sesame Street | Himself | Episode: "Snuffle Sneeze" |
| 2013 | New Girl | Artie, the coffee shop owner | Episode: "Coach" |
| 2014–2016 | Murder in the First | Inspector Terrance English | 32 episodes |
| 2014 | The Good Wife | Dean Levine-Wilkins | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Repeat After Me | Himself | Episode: "#1.8" |
| 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 | |
| Selling Sunset | Episode: "(Real) Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" | ||
| Hypnotize Me | 8 episodes | ||
| Elena of Avalor | Sanza (voice) | Episode: "Flower of Light" | |
| 2020 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Himself | Episode: "Taye Diggs" |
| Muppets Now | 6 episodes | ||
| 2021 | The Celebrity Dating Game | Episode: "Taye Diggs and Demi Burnett" | |
| Ada Twist, Scientist | Mr. Twist (voice) | 6 episodes | |
| 2022 | The Best Man: The Final Chapters | Harper Stewart | Main cast |
| Back in the Groove | Himself | Host, 8 episodes | |
| 2023 | S.W.A.T. | Danny | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy | Lance Herndon | 2 episodes | |
| 2024 | Alert: Missing Persons Unit | Himself | Episode: "Federal Prisoner #07198F-068P" |
| Ariel | King Triton (voice) | Main cast |