This past summer, Diggs completed production on “Malibu's Most Wanted” Project with Jamie Kennedy, Blair Underwood, Ryan O’Neal, and Bo Derek. Diggs portrays an actor who is hired to “scare the white” into Jamie Kennedy’s character who is obsessed with the culture of south central Los Angeles.
Most recently, Diggs starred opposite Sanna Lathan, Queen Latifah, and Mos Def in Fox Searchlight’s romantic comedy “Brown Sugar.” The film reunited him with his “The Wood” director, Rick Famuyiwa, and he portrays a record executive at a hip-hop label who falls in love with a magazine editor he has known since childhood.
Diggs is also featured in the Miramax/Dimension Films’ futuristic thriller "Equilibrium," directed by Kurt Wimmer ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and produced by Jan de Bont ("Speed") and Lucas Foster. The film, which takes place in a future society where citizens are prevented from expressing emotions by an enforced requirement of the drug Librium, features Diggs and Christian Bale as partners responsible for administering the drug who undergo spiritual conversions that conflict with their duties.
In 2003, Diggs stars in John McTiernan’s “Basic,” playing a soldier in Samuel L. Jackson’s ranks. The Intermedia/Phoenix Pictures film also stars John Travolta, Giovanni Ribisi and Connie Nielsen.
Diggs was also seen in the Artisan thriller "The Way of the Gun," directed and written by Chris McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects") and produced by Kenneth Kokin. Here, Diggs plays a security guard in the pursuit of a pregnant hostage, played by Juliette Lewis. The film also stars Ryan Phillipe, James Caan and Benicio Del Toro.
Diggs received much acclaim for his lead role in last year's romantic comedy, "The Best Man." The film, co-starring Nia Long, Morris Chestnut and Harold Perrineau Jr., is the story of a group of college friends who learn secrets of their past when reunited for a wedding. "The Best Man" received rave reviews and has since gone on to become one of the top ten highest grossing African American films in history. He also starred in the blockbuster thriller "The House on Haunted Hill," the inaugural feature production for Joel Silver and Robert Zemeckis' Dark Castle Entertainment. The film also starred Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen and Chris Kattan.
In the spring of 2000, Diggs made his return to the stage in the Manhattan Theater Club's The Wild Party, winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for "Best Off-Broadway Musical." The Wild Party is based on a jazz- like poem of the same title by Joseph Moncure March about two vaudeville performers.
Previously, Diggs starred with Omar Epps and Richard T. Jones in Rick Famuyiwa's "The Wood," for MTV Productions/Paramount Pictures. The film focused on three friends as one of them (Diggs) prepares for his wedding day. Diggs also starred in Doug Liman's critically acclaimed "Go" for Columbia Tristar. He starred opposite Sarah Polley, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr and Katie Holmes.
Diggs' talent was first recognized in Broadway's critically acclaimed Pulitzer Prize winning play "Rent," with his role as Benny the landlord. His first job out of college, in 1994, was a coveted role in the ensemble cast of the five-time Tony Award winning play "Carousel," in which he also worked as an understudy.
Born in New Jersey, he grew up in Rochester, New York attending High School of the Arts. He received his BFA degree from Syracuse University, where he studied theater, and was discovered by an agent while performing in a showcase during his senior year in college. Diggs resides in New York.
Biography prepared by Miramax Films in support of Taye Diggs' role in "Chicago."
