The Early Show

Hot Shot Taye Diggs

By Rome Neal

September 28, 2004 / 5:41 PM EDT / CBS

On Wednesday's The Early Show, Taye Diggs, a man of many mediums, talks about his new acting role as a hot shot bachelor lawyer in the UPN drama "Kevin Hill."

"My cousin unexpectedly passes on and leaves me custody of this beautiful 10-month-old baby girl," Diggs tells The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. "I'm left to stand up and take responsibility and take care of her, take her under my wing and that, obviously cramps the life style that I've been used to. So that's where most of the story lies."

The lead role was originally envisioned for Colin Ferrell or Bruce Willis, but the role went to Diggs.

"Quite simply put, it's the best written, most well-rounded role that I've gotten to date. So my manager and I decided to just jump on it," says Diggs. He adds, "If this show is successful, it will be the only one with an African American in the lead role. So that could be groundbreaking."

The show premieres tonight and airs on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.

Diggs' showbiz breakthrough came in the Broadway musical "Rent".

On television, he's previously had a recurring roll on "Ally McBeal," while on the big screen he's starred in the films "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," "The Best Man" and "Chicago."

Some Facts About Taye Diggs

Born in 1972 in New Jersey, he grew up in Rochester, N.Y., attending High School of the Arts.

He received his BFA degree from Syracuse University, where he studied theater and was discovered by an agent in a showcase during his senior year.

In 1994, his first job out of college was a role in the ensemble cast of the five-time Tony Award winning play "Carousel."

Diggs' musical talents were first recognized in Broadway's critically acclaimed Pulitzer Prize winning play "Rent," with his role as Benny the landlord. There he met Idina Menzel, who is now his wife.

He starred in the Manhattan Theater Club's "The Wild Party," which was the winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for "Best Off-Broadway Musical."

In 1998, Diggs made his feature film debut starring opposite Angela Bassett in 20th Century Fox's box-office hit "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

In 1999, he was in "House on Haunted Hill," "The Best Man," "The Wood," and "Go."

In 2002, he starred in "The Way of the Gun."

He is slated to appear in "Slow Burn" and "Cake."

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