Considering the enormous hype surrounding Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid remake, it’s no wonder that the actor who replaced Samuel E. Wright as the voice of Sebastian the Crab, Daveed Diggs, is the talk of the town. Aside from Ariel and Ursula, we’d argue that Sebastian is one of the most influential roles within the story, especially as he’s at the center of countless musical numbers. “Under the Sea” is one of the most beloved Disney original songs of all time, so nailing that was half the battle for Diggs, who couldn’t be getting more praise as Sebastian if he tried. As the successor to Wright, Diggs not only paid homage to one of Disney’s best characters, he’s also made the role his own.
Aside from his run as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, audiences are keen to know more about Diggs’ personal life, specifically his family tree. Although he’d provided the voices for Paul in Soul and Victor Stone/Cyborg in DC League of Super-Pets, it was his pivot to Disney’s live-action repertoire that really put him in the public eye. Additionally, he is the vocalist of the experimental hip hop group Clipping, for which he’s equally famous.
And then, there’s Taye Diggs, a stage actor known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but who’s also dabbled in screen acting in comedies such as Malibu’s Most Wanted (2003), and The Best Man (1999) and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday (2013). Although they share the same last name, there’s still an element of curiosity surrounding the Diggs, and whether they’re related.
We’re here to tell you that Daveed and Taye Diggs are not related. Taye Diggs is also known to have been married to Idina Menzel, the voice of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen, from 2003 to 2014. Taye’s only listed relative on his biography pages is his cousin-in-law Misty Copeland, an African-American ballet dancer.
As for Daveed, who originated the dual roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the well-known musical Hamilton, his parents are Barbara Needell and Dountes Diggs, and his brother is Malcom Diggs. Known of his relatives are in the Hollywood spotlight, so he’s something of a stand-out in the Diggs family.
Although they aren’t related, Daveed and Taye Diggs have some things in common, including their mutual careers in Broadway musicals and their status as Aquariuses, both born in January (Taye on Jan. 4 and Daveed on Jan. 24.).
There’s no doubt that Daveed’s role as Sebastian will take him farther than ever before.
