Actor and singer Scott 'Taye' Diggs' early life was less than ideal. When his father died, he had to become the man of the house at a young age and help look after his four younger brothers and sisters. "I changed all their diapers and taught them how to play soccer," he says.

Once his siblings had all grown up, Taye (which comes from a shortened version of his school nickname 'Scottaye') enrolled at the Syracuse University, majoring in musical theater. He used his time her to develop his singing and acting skills, including singing in a band called Zoo Trip. After graduating, he quickly won small roles on Broadway, and got a singing gig in Disneyland Tokyo for eight months.

When he returned to the US, Taye took on a role in the new musical "Rent" as Benny, the evil landlord. "I had no idea it would become the hit that it did, but it was a heck of an experience," Diggs has said. As the musical's popularity soared, so did Taye's profile.

On the back of "Rent"'s massive and unexpected success, Taye took his first footsteps into film. In 1998, he made his movie debut, co-staring in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" as Angela Bassett's love interest. His acting won over critics, while his dark and handsome looks charmed female viewers. 

More roles followed in 1999, including parts in "Go", The Wood, horro "House on Haunted Hill", and – one of the roles Taye says he is most proud of - "The Best Man". As well as a part on hit TV show "Ally McBeal", as a fan of the law-themed show he says this "as corny as it sounds" was "a fantasy come true".

In 2002, Taye continued his movie career with the Oscar-winning "Chicago", "Brown Sugar" and "Equilibrium".

The following year, he married Broadway singer and actress Idina Menzel, who he starred with in "Rent", breaking thousands of hearts. They chose the same Jamaican location where "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" was filmed five years earlier. When Taye first got together with his future-bride, the romantic said: "It feels like it was meant to be."

Since his wedding, Taye has appeared in episodes of the popular TV shows "The West Wing" and "Will & Grace". Plus starring in the movie version of the musical "Rent", reprising his role as Benny, the part which kickstarted his career, as well the films "Cake", "Slow Burn" and "Drum".

Speaking about the challenges of being black in a white industry, Taye has said: "Hollywood only lets a few of us in at a time only because audiences may not be ready to accept Black people as leading actors." But more recently revealed: "White people are starting to notice who I am. In the black community of actors, that's the gauge of how big you are, your real crossover appeal.”

More popular than ever, Taye recently filmed "30 Days" which is about two rival basketball stars.