Taye Diggs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taye Diggs
Diggs in 2018
Born	Scott Leo Berry (1971-01-02) January 2, 1971 (age 54) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	Syracuse University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor, singer
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Idina Menzel ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2014)​
Children	1
Relatives	Misty Copeland (cousin-in-law)

Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (born January 2, 1971) is an American actor and singer. He is famous for his roles in Broadway musicals like Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

You might also know him from TV shows like Private Practice and All American. He has also starred in many movies, including How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Brown Sugar, and the musical film Chicago.

Early Life and Education

Scott Leo Berry was born in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in Rochester, New York. His mother, Marcia, was a teacher and actress, and his father, Andre Young, was an artist. When Taye was a child, his mother married Jeffries Diggs, and Taye took his stepfather's last name.

His nickname, "Taye," came from how people playfully said his first name, Scotty, as "Scottay." He is the oldest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters.

Taye attended the School of the Arts in Rochester. He later went to Syracuse University, where he earned a BFA degree in musical theater in 1993. A BFA is a special college degree for students studying creative fields like acting or art.

Starting His Career

Before becoming famous, Diggs performed at summer theaters in New Hampshire. His first big role on Broadway was in the musical Carousel in 1994. The show won a Tony Award, which is a major award for live theater. In 1995, he also worked as a dancer at Tokyo Disneyland.

In 1996, Diggs got a main role in the musical Rent as the landlord, Benny. This show became a huge hit, winning major awards. It was in Rent that he met his future wife, Idina Menzel.

After Rent, he acted in other stage shows. He played Mr. Black in the musical The Wild Party and later played Billy Flynn in the Broadway show Chicago.

From Stage to Screen

Making a Name in Movies

In 1998, Taye Diggs made his first movie appearance in How Stella Got Her Groove Back. This role made him well-known to a wider audience. The next year, he starred in the popular movies The Wood and The Best Man.

He also appeared in the scary movie House on Haunted Hill in 1999. In 2002, he was in the movie version of Chicago and the science-fiction film Equilibrium with Christian Bale. He also returned to his role as Benny for the movie version of Rent in 2005.

Success on Television

Diggs also became a familiar face on television. He had a role in the soap opera Guiding Light and later appeared in the comedy-drama Ally McBeal.

From 2004 to 2005, he starred in his own TV show called Kevin Hill. Although critics liked the show, it only lasted for one season. He also had a recurring role on the popular comedy Will & Grace.

One of his most famous TV roles was Dr. Sam Bennett in the medical drama Private Practice, which was a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy. The show was very successful and ran for six seasons, from 2007 to 2013.

From 2018 to 2024, he played Head Coach Billy Baker in the popular teen drama All American.

Other Projects

Writing for Children

Besides acting, Taye Diggs is an author of children's books. He has written four books: Mixed Me! (2015), Chocolate Me (2015), I Love You More Than... (2018), and My Friend! (2021). All of his books are illustrated by Shane Evans.

Voice Acting and Hosting

Diggs has also worked as a voice actor. He voiced the character Capper the cat in My Little Pony: The Movie (2017). He also voiced King Triton in the animated series Ariel.

He has appeared on the show Lip Sync Battle twice and won both times. In 2019, he hosted a game show called Hypnotize Me.

Personal Life

Taye Diggs is a co-artistic director of a dance company called Dre.dance, which he started with his friend Andrew Palermo.

He married actress Idina Menzel, his co-star from Rent, in 2003. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born in 2009. The couple separated in 2013, and their divorce was finalized in 2014.

Selected Work

Here are some of the most well-known movies, TV shows, and stage plays Taye Diggs has been in.

Film

Television

Stage

See also

In Spanish: Taye Diggs para niños