Ever since the arrival of the new All-American season, every fan seems to miss the iconic coach Billy Baker from the show.
Now, if you entirely missed the last season, then SPOILERS ALERT!!! Our favorite coach, Billy, passed away on the 11th episode of the 5th season.
The character Billy was played by the versatile actor Taye Diggs.
Key Takeaways
- Billy Baker, played by Taye Diggs, was a beloved and complex character on the CW series “All American” who sacrificed himself to save a student.
- The decision to kill off Billy’s character was preplanned by the showrunners, who wanted to give him a heroic and impactful exit.
- After leaving “All American,” Taye Diggs continued to take on various acting roles, including guest appearances on other TV shows and voice work.
Who Was Billy Baker In All-American?
Billy Baker was a complex and multifaceted character on the CW series “All American.”
As the head coach of Beverly High’s football team, he plays a vital role in the students’ lives, particularly Spencer James.
Billy’s past is marked by both glory and struggle.
A former NFL player, he is now fighting to reconcile his past and move forward.
As the prodigal son of Crenshaw, he is intimately familiar with the challenges and adversity that the community faces.
This understanding drives his desire to help Spencer succeed.
However, Billy’s relationship with Spencer is not without its complexities.
Billy keeps secrets from the young athlete, ultimately leading to a breach of trust.
This betrayal forces Billy to confront his past, including a past relationship with Spencer’s mother, Grace.
The fallout from this revelation threatens to unravel the delicate bond he has built with Spencer and his relationships with his children, Olivia and Jordan.
Despite these setbacks, Billy remains steadfast in his commitment to his players and family.
Due to this nature, every fan loved the character from the bottom of their heart.
What Happened To Taye Diggs, A.K.A Billy Baker, On All American Season 5?
The episode “Time“ in the series marked the end of the Taye Diggs character.
At first glance, many fans believed that Billy would be back.
However, in the next moment, Jabari breaks the news to Billy’s wife, Laura, which confirms that we won’t see Diggs in this show again.
If you are curious about what happened in that episode, then we have some details for you.
In that episode, Billy and his team are involved in an accident after the bus tire suddenly bursts.
This incident causes a bus to lose control and eventually end up on the edge of Cliff.
At first, it seems like everyone gets off the bus without much damage.
But that isn’t the case; Jamari goes missing, so Billy returns to the bus.
At that moment, he knows only one person from the bus can get out alive. So, Billy makes a tough decision and gifts a life to Jabari.
It was a heroic end for such a strong character, but the moment he says, “Tell my family I love them,” it broke every fan’s wish for the character’s revival.
Taye Diggs’ Departure Was Preplanned
Even though Taye’s removal from the series broke the hearts of many fans, Nkechi Okoro Carroll said that he had planned this from the end of season 4.
Furthermore, Caroll explained this idea to Taye, to which he agreed.
They both mutually decided it was the fitting end for a character like Billy.
Carol always wanted the ending to be heroic, but she wanted Taye to be comfortable with it.
Before this idea, they were thinking of a different version.
In that version, Billy would resign from his position as a coach to try out for the college coach. But they said it wouldn’t make sense for Billy, as all the players were like his family.
They knew that a character like Billy would never leave his family behind in a time of need.
While talking about it, Diggs said,
The easiest choice would have been for me to teach at some college but then given the intensity of the relationships between me and my family, and me and the team, it would not make sense if I was still alive and wasn’t still in contact with these children of mine — these students, these young men that had such an influence on my life. When I was told how I was exiting, I was impressed. No characters I’ve played have ever been dealt with in that fashion. I was honored
Taye Diggs Career After Exiting The Show
After leaving the popular series, the veteran actor then went on to appear in another show named S.W.A.T for one episode.
In that show, he appeared as a Danny Wright.
Furthermore, the All-American star also appeared in The Comeback, where he was seen as Jeff Murray.
Then he went on to appear in another movie named Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy, in which he played Lance.
Besides movies and series, he has also done an advertisement for the detergent brand True Earth Power.
FAQs
What Is The Name Of Idina Menzel And Taye Diggs’ Son?
Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs’ son is named Walker, who is 14 years old.
What Does Taye Diggs Say About His Son’s Talents?
Taye Diggs has praised his son’s impressive vocal abilities, saying, “He’s got a beautiful voice” and can do everything Diggs can do “even better.”
How Did Menzel And Diggs Meet?
Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs met while co-starring in the original Broadway production of “Rent” in 1995, where they played the roles of Maureen Johnson and Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III.
Why Did Menzel And Diggs Divorce In 2013?
According to Menzel, the “interracial aspect” of their relationship played a large role in their split. She explained that Diggs faced some disappointment from the Black community for marrying a “little white Jewish girl.”
How Do Menzel And Diggs Co-parent Their Son Walker?
Diggs states that he and Menzel can co-parent well because they always put their child first. He mentioned that they are both dedicated to supporting Walker’s interests, such as his passion for basketball.
