Taye Diggs



































Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs 2015.jpg
Diggs at the 2015 Texas Book Festival

Born
Scott Leo Berry[1]
(1971-01-02) January 2, 1971 (age 47)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Other names Taye
Alma mater
Syracuse University (BFA)
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 1996–present
Spouse(s)

  • Idina Menzel
    (m. 2003; div. 2014)
Children 1

Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (born January 2, 1971) is an American actor and singer. He is known for his roles in the Broadway musicals Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the TV series Private Practice, the films How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Brown Sugar, The Best Man and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday. Between 2014 and 2016 he starred as Inspector Terry English in Murder in the First.




Contents






  • 1 Early life


  • 2 Career


  • 3 Personal life


  • 4 Filmography


    • 4.1 Film


    • 4.2 Television




  • 5 Awards and nominations


  • 6 In popular culture


  • 7 References


  • 8 External links





Early life


Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in Rochester, New York.[2] His mother, Marcia (née Berry), is 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.[3][4] His nickname, Taye, comes from the playful pronunciation of Scotty as "Scottay".[5] He is the oldest of five children.[6] 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 a summer 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 nasty 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 Idina 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 long-running Broadway revival of Chicago and filled in as Billy Flynn on Broadway.[7] 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 final 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 opposite Kate Walsh in Private Practice, the 2007 spin-off of Grey's Anatomy.[8]
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 the Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice Crossover Event. Diggs stars in the live adaptation of the comic Dylan Dog: Dead of Night.[9] 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.[10]


Since the summer of 2014, Diggs has starred in serial crime drama Murder in the First with Kathleen Robertson.[11]


Diggs is the author of three children's books, Mixed Me! (2015), Chocolate Me (2015), and I Love You More Than . . . (2018), all illustrated by Shane W. Evans.


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 2016, Diggs hosted the unaired game show Hypnotize Me, based on the British game show You're Back in the Room for FOX with hypnotist Keith Barry.


In 2017, Diggs cast in 'Til Death Do Us Part and My Little Pony: The Movie, where he voices Capper the cat.


Diggs has appeared on the reality show Lip Sync Battle and is the show's only two time winner to date. In Season 3 Diggs performed as Madonna for the song "Vogue" and in Season 4 in the Christina Aguilera tribute episode, performing "Candyman" and becoming a winner a second time when Aguilera chose him as the champion.



Personal life


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.[12] Their divorce was finalized on December 3, 2014.[13]


Diggs is the co-artistic director of a dance company, Dre.dance, with fellow Broadway veteran and School of the Arts alumnus Andrew Palermo.[14]



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
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

2018

Set It Up
Rick

2018

River Runs Red
Charles Coleman, Sr.
Post-production


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
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
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
2007–2009

Grey's Anatomy

Dr. Sam Bennett
3 episodes
2007–2013

Private Practice
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
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
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"
2015–2016

Rosewood
Mike Boyce[15]
3 episodes
2016

NCIS
USMC Gunnery Sergeant Aaron Davis
Episode: "Scope"
2016–2017

Empire
Councilman Angelo DuBois
8 episodes
2018

All American
Ass't Coach Billy Baker
2 episodes


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

NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

The Best Man
Nominated
2002

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

NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Brown Sugar
Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Cast

Chicago
Nominated

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Movie Chemistry (with Sanaa Lathan)

Brown Sugar
Nominated

Choice Movie Liplock (with Sanaa Lathan)
Nominated

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

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Won
2010

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated
2011

People's Choice Awards

Favorite TV Drama Actor
Nominated
2012

NAACP Image Awards

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated
2013

Acapulco Black Film Festival

Best Cast

Baggage Claim
Nominated

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
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 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.



References





  1. ^ Hannaham, James (2015) "How Taye is Transforming the Role of Hedwig." New York Times July 21, 2015. Retrieved 3-26-2017.


  2. ^ "ABC TV Shows, Specials & Movies - ABC.com". ABC. Retrieved 4 November 2014..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  3. ^ "Taye Diggs Biography (1972?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.


  4. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/magazine/how-taye-diggs-is-transforming-the-role-of-hedwig.html


  5. ^ [1] Archived May 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.


  6. ^ "Taye Digs: Actor". People.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.


  7. ^ The Broadway League. "Taye Diggs - IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". IBDb.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.


  8. ^ [2][dead link]


  9. ^ [3] Archived June 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.


  10. ^ "Interview of the BIFF Winner: Dan Mirvish". Filmfestivals.com. Retrieved 2013-02-19.


  11. ^ "Advertisement". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2014.


  12. ^ Nudd, Tim (December 11, 2013). "Taye Diggs & Idina Menzel Split". People. Retrieved December 11, 2013.


  13. ^ "Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel: Divorce Finalized". TMZ. January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.


  14. ^ Sulcas, Roslyn (October 12, 2008). "Party Guests With Jazzy Moves and Political Leanings". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 November 2014.


  15. ^ Petski, Denise (October 12, 2015). "Taye Diggs Joins Fox Drama 'Rosewood'; Erik Allan Kramer In 'Mike & Molly'". Deadline. Retrieved October 22, 2015.




External links




  • Taye Diggs on IMDb


  • Taye Diggs at the Internet Broadway Database Edit this at Wikidata


  • Taye Diggs at the Internet Off-Broadway Database

  • Taye Diggs interview









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