Taye Diggs was born in New Jersey but grew up in New York. Growing up in a large family of working parents, he decided to pursue a career in stage acting to help his family pay bills. After graduating college, his Broadway debut occurred in 1994, which led the actor to grow his career as a singer/actor and star in multiple stage productions. Within a few years, Diggs ventured into movies and television shows to establish a name for himself. He has been a part of various drama series and soap operas that have earned him recognition. Over the years, Diggs has received many accolades for his performances, including SAG and Critics’ Choice Awards.
Through his work on the stage and the big screen, Taye Diggs has amassed a whopping $7 million fortune. Through determination and hard work, he is one of the few Broadway actors to achieve equal fame on the stage and in the movies. Let’s look at how Taye Diggs started his career and became a multi-millionaire.
Road To Broadway
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Born as Scott Leo Berry, he moved to Rochester, New York, after his mother remarried Jeffries Diggs. He took his stepfather’s last name and adapted the stage name Taye from his nickname Scotty. According to IMDB, Diggs had an artistic background, as his mother was a teacher and part-time actress. During his early years, he attended a regular school before shifting to an art school. The BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University helped him land roles in local performances in New Hampshire. After working in minor stage productions for some time, his big break occurred in 1994 when Broadway came calling.
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Taye Diggs earned a role in Carousel, a Tony-winning musical revival in 1994. It became a hit for theater-loving audiences and spotlighted Diggs’ performance. He continued his work on Broadway while working at Tokyo Disneyland as a dancer. This helped him pay the bills and provide for his family. While Carousel made him a recognizable face, it wasn’t until he booked the role of Benny in Rent that Diggs came on the path to becoming a global celebrity, as noted by Celebrity Net Worth. The Rent revival won several awards, and Diggs met his now ex-wife Idina Menzel in the musical.
A Career On The Big Screen
Along with working in other notable musicals like Wicked and Chicago, Taye Diggs ventured into television shows and movies. He was a supporting actor on the soap opera Guiding Light and made his film debut in 1998 with How Stella Got Her Groove Back. 1999 was a big year for Diggs as he appeared in three movies: The Best Man, Go, and The Wood, while filming a small role in House On Haunted Hill. He also joined the cast of Ally McBeal as a supporting guest star for several episodes. Since Diggs had already worked in the musical Chicago, he was cast in the film adaptation in 2002. The role led him to win a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics Choice Award during the award season.
Taye Diggs finally got the opportunity to become the lead actor in his show with Kevin Hill, a legal drama. It received critically positive reviews and aired for one season. He worked in Grey’s Anatomy spin-off Private Practice and even appeared on a crossover episode of The West Wing. Diggs has also opened his dance academy with Andrew Palermo and helped release the ALPO Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook, as stated by US Weekly.
Building A Successful Career
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Diggs’ active career in theater, television, and movies helped him consistently land roles in each format. He starred in a 2014 drama short film, Between Us, which premiered at the Bahamas International Film Festival and earned the coveted Grand Jury Prize award. He was cast in Murder In The First for the next two years. The talented singer has also lent his voice to animations and voiced Capper in My Little Pony: The Movie. Since 2011, Diggs has published children’s books that are stories about kids of color and how they stand up for themselves.
For several seasons, the actor had recurring roles in Empire, The Good Wife, and Rosewood. He appeared in River Runs Red and Stage Mother in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and also starred in Netflix’s Set It Up, which received 92% on the Tomatometer, as mentioned by Rotten Tomatoes. The success of The Best Man movies has also led to a series that will air on Peacock in 2022.
Taye Diggs has maintained a well-balanced career in musicals and movies while simultaneously working in television shows. His talent on the screen has landed him supporting and leading roles in notable projects. Taye Diggs has come a long way from working in local stage productions to starring in Tony-winning musicals. He was last seen starring as a series regular in the CW sports drama All American.
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Sources: IMDB, Celebrity Net Worth, US Weekly, Rotten Tomatoes
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