Peacoat by Balmain. Henley by AllSaints. Sweatpants by Zara. Shoes by Nike. Custom duffel by Louis Vuitton. Chain by David Yurman. Earrings, Diggs' own.
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Leading-man looks, a wildly diverse acting résumé, and a deep appreciation for everything he's got doesn't even begin to describe stage, film, and TV sensation Taye Diggs. Now he scores with The CW's hit drama series All American, and these striking fitness-inspired portraits for the November-December 2018 issue of Watch.
Scroll to check out these fun fashion photos of this stylish MVP captured by Jeff Lipsky—including web-exclusive bonus images—plus interview tidbits with Taye Diggs.
Stream full episodes of All American free on CWTV.com and The CW app.
Taye Diggs is a trailblazer
Henley by AllSaints. Sweatpants by Zara. Shoes by Nike. Custom duffel by Louis Vuitton. Chain by David Yurman. Earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
Though he gained considerable recognition as hunky boytoy Winston Shakespeare in When Stella Got Her Groove Back, Diggs' revels in his current role as Beverly Hills football coach and teen mentor Billy Baker, on All American.
Taye Diggs is a talented song-and-dance man
Blazer, vest, and sweat pants by Polo Ralph Lauren. Jersey by Undefeated. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelets by Miansai.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
Though 47-year-old Diggs made his mark on the theater world in 1996's groundbreaking Rent, his first Broadway role was in the 1994 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel.
Taye Diggs is a native New Yorker
Vintage jacket by Adidas. Shorts by Puma. Shoes by Nike. Leggings by Under Armour. Bracelets by Miansai. Watch and earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
The oldest of five siblings, Diggs grew up in Rochester, NY, and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in theater arts.
Taye Diggs loves a good sneaker
Vintage jacket by Adidas. Shorts by Puma. Shoes by Nike. Leggings by Under Armour. Bracelets by Miansai. Watch and earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
The footwear-obsessed have long had an eye out for Diggs' funky, sports-friendly shoes, and the limited edition, lime-laced Air Jordans he rocks in our shoot are a prime example.
Taye Diggs finds teachable moments everywhere
Jacket by Coach. Vest by Polo Ralph Lauren. Jersey by Undefeated. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelet by Miansai. Earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
"My personal life somehow mirrors what I'm working on. That helps me deal with what's going on in my personal life." — Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs never (quite) changed his name
Turtleneck and trousers by ASOS. Shoes by Nike. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelet by Miansai. Watch and earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
Fun Fact: Taye's given name is Scott Leo Diggs, and Taye is actually a riff on the actor's childhood nickname "Scottay."
Taye Diggs is a glass-half-full guy
Cardigan by Polo Ralph Lauren. T-shirt, vintage. Shorts by Adidas. Bracelets by Miansai. Watch and earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
His youthful eagerness to achieve leading-man status, says Diggs, eventually gave way to a focus on all he had, rather than all he might be missing. "In church we used to call it 'anointed,'" he says, reflecting on his good bad fortune.
Taye Diggs counts his blessings
Gray T-shirt, vintage. Red T-shirt by Under Armour. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelets by Miansai. Earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
"It just literally manifested," says Diggs of his role on Grey's Anatomy, which eventually led to six seasons on the spinoff Private Practice. "And that's when I was like, 'I'm a lucky guy. I've gotten to do everything I've wanted to do—whether or not it's continued is another thing, but I've gotten to dip my toes in all these different ponds.'"
Taye Diggs understands the hustle
Gray T-shirt, vintage. Red T-shirt by Under Armour. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelets by Miansai. Earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
"In my head, I was supposed to be one of the first people that got a movie or a big TV show, and I was one of the last," says Diggs of his post-Rent days, before When Stella Got Her Groove Back put him on the hot-commodity map.
Taye Diggs' fatherly side is real
Blazer, vest, and sweat pants by Polo Ralph Lauren. Jersey by Undefeated. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelets by Miansai.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
Diggs and his ex-wife, actress Idina Menzel, have a nine-year-old son named Walker.
Taye Diggs is a devoted—and tattooed—dad
Cardigan by Polo Ralph Lauren. T-shirt, vintage. Shorts by Adidas. Bracelets by Miansai. Watch and earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
Fun Fact: On Diggs' left arm, in his son's handwriting, is a tattoo that reads "I LOVE DADDY"; and on his right forearm another reads "DADDY LOVES WALKER."
Taye Diggs is open to the unknown
Blue shirt by Alexander Wang. Striped tank by Fear of God. Vintage shorts by Eastbay. Leggings by Under Armour. Shoes by Nike. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelets by Miansai. Watch and bracelets, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
Diggs says it was his lead role in Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch that changed his life both personally and professionally. "[Improvisational] was not my style," he admits. "Before Hedwig, I never knew the real value of going out there without a net. When you don't plan you allow for so much more to happen."
Taye Diggs is excited to evolve
Jacket by Coach. Vest by Polo Ralph Lauren. Jersey by Undefeated. Chain by David Yurman. Bracelet by Miansai. Earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
His role on All American, Diggs explains, has also helped him face some of his fears.
"I consider myself very youth minded, and it's one thing to be a dad—I have played the dad—but to play a dad of teenagers is... a trip," he says. "But I'm realizing I'm getting older and I don't have to be ashamed of it... I've had a great body of work, so I'm using all that to go against the ego, which can hold you back."
Taye Diggs proudly tackles social topics and relevant themes
Peacoat by Balmain. Henley by AllSaints. Chain by David Yurman. Earrings, Diggs' own.
Photography by Jeff Lipsky. Styled by Michael Nash.
"The issues that we're dealing with are issues that resonate with me and should resonate with our country right now: race, class, sex, gay characters proud of who they are—all of it. No one's shying away from anything." — Taye Diggs
Originally published in Watch Magazine, November-December 2018.
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Stream full episodes of All American free on CWTV.com and The CW app.
