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.

All American returns for Season 3 on Jan. 18 at 8/7c on The CW. Catch up now free only on The CW.

Taye Diggs is a trailblazer

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

"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

"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

Diggs and his ex-wife, actress Idina Menzel, have a nine-year-old son named Walker.

Taye Diggs is a devoted—and tattooed—dad

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

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

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

"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.

All American returns for Season 3 on Jan. 18 at 8/7c on The CW. Catch up now free only on The CW.