Taye Diggs

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Taye Diggs
birthdate = birth date and age|1971|1|2
birthplace = New Jersey, U.S.
spouse = Idina Menzel (January 11, 2003 - present)
deathdate =
birthname = Scott Diggs
othername =
homepage =

Taye Diggs (born Scott L. Diggs; January 2, 1971) is an American theatre, film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Broadway musical "Rent", the motion picture "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", and the television series "Private Practice".

Biography

Early life

Diggs was born in New Jersey, [ [http://abc.go.com/primetime/privatepractice/index?pn=bio&t=character&d=25009#t=actor&d=25013 Private Practice - Home - ABC.com ] ] the son of Marcia (née Berry), a teacher and actress, and Jeffries Diggs. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/75/Taye-Diggs.html Taye Diggs Biography (1972?-) ] ] He was raised in Rochester, New York, where he attended The School of The Arts. He is the oldest of five children; he has two brothers and two sisters. Diggs received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from Syracuse University. He performed many times at the popular Lakes Region Summer Theatre in Meredith, New Hampshire. Diggs's Broadway debut was in the ensemble cast of the 1994 Tony Award-winning revival of the musical "Carousel".

Career

In 1996, he got his big break, originating the role of the nasty landlord Benny in Jonathan Larson's Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning "Rent". After "Rent" he appeared as Mr. Black alongside Idina Menzel's Kate in Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway production of "The Wild Party". Diggs also played Billy Flynn in the long-running Broadway revival of "Chicago" and temporarily filled in for Norbert Leo Butz (an original "Rent" standby) as the love interest Fiyero of Idina 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". This movie brought Diggs much acclaim and exposure. The following year he played a tantric sex god in Doug Liman's "Go", and an AWOL groom in the coming-of-age drama "The Wood". Malcolm D. Lee's "The Best Man" features Diggs as the titular character, an author and best friend of the groom (portrayed by Morris Chestnut). He also starred in the remake of William Castle's "The House on Haunted Hill". Taye Diggs was featured in an episode of "America's Next Top Model", to help the contestants through an acting challenge.

Diggs portrayed the title character on the short-lived UPN television series "Kevin Hill". 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 2003, Diggs was on "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 continues to move forward, he still returns to the stage frequently. Most recently he was seen alongside James McDaniel in Charles Fuller's "A Soldier's Play" at Second Stage Theatre in New York.

Diggs co-stars opposite Kate Walsh in "Private Practice", the fall 2007 spin-off of "Grey's Anatomy". [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/tv_nm/taye_dc_1] ] 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.

Personal life

Diggs married his "Rent", "Wild Party", and "Wicked" Broadway co-star Idina Menzel on January 11, 2003 after dating for 7 years. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Sammy Davis, Jr. and two cats named Ella and Coltrane, who they call their "jazz cats."

Filmography

*"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" (1998) .... Winston Shakespeare
*"Go" (1999) .... Marcus
*"The Wood" (1999) .... Roland
*"The Best Man" (1999/I) .... Harper Stewart
*"House on Haunted Hill" (1999) .... Eddie Baker
*"The Way of the Gun" (2000) .... Jeffers
*"New Best Friend" (2002) .... Artie Bonner
*"Just a Kiss" (2002) .... Andre
*"Brown Sugar" (2002) .... Andre Romulus 'Dre' Ellis
*"Equilibrium" (2002) .... Andrew Brandt
*"Chicago" (2002) .... The Bandleader
*"Basic" (2003) .... Pike
*"Malibu's Most Wanted" (2003) .... Sean (aka Blood Bath)
*"Drum" (2004) .... Henry Nxumalo
*"Rent" (2005) .... Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III
*"Slow Burn" (2007) ... Jeffrey Sykes
*"Days of Wrath" (2008) ... Steve Lerato

TV credits

*"Ally McBeal" (1997) TV Series .... Jackson Duper (2001)
*"Punk'd" (2003) TV Series (one episode) .... Himself
*"The West Wing" (2003) TV Series (two episodes) .... Wesley Davis
*"Kevin Hill" (2004-2005) TV Series (lead role) .... Kevin Hill
*"America's Next Top Model" (2004) TV Series (one episode, season 3) .... Himself
*"Cake" (2006) (TV) .... Hemingway Jones
*"Will & Grace" (2006) TV Series (five episodes) .... James
*"Day Break" (2006-2007) TV Series (lead role) .... Detective Brett Hopper
*"Grey's Anatomy" (2007) TV Series (two episodes) ....Sam Bennet
*"Private Practice" (2007-present) TV Series ....Sam Bennet

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0004875|name=Taye Diggs
* [http://television.aol.com/tv-celebrity-interviews/taye-diggs Taye Diggs interview]