RZA.

Robert F. Diggs Robert Fitzgerald Diggs

RZA — Actor

Born 5 Jul 1969 Brownsville, United States

Citizenship United States

Age 56 yr Today

7 min read

Reading time

1,289

Words

Jun 2, 2026

Published

86

Film credits

1

Book

2

Awards

TL;DR

RZA, born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, co-founded the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s with his cousins GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. As the group’s primary producer, he created the gritty sound of their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers which redefined hip-hop production. He also pioneered horrorcore with Gravediggaz and later directed The Man with the Iron Fists in 2012.

Identity & family.

KIN · 2

Names, aliases, and relatives of RZA — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Robert Fitzgerald Diggs

Native Name Robert F. Diggs

Nicknames Prince Rakeem, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, The Abbott, Ruler Zig Zag Zig Allah, The Rzarector

Aliases Prince Rakeem, R Z A, Wu Tang Clan, Bobby Diggs, Robert F Diggs, Robert Diggs, The RZA, The Rza

SPOUSES: Talani Diggs Eboni Mills

At a glance.

STATS

RZA by the numbers — life, work, and family.

56 Age

86 Film credits

1 Book

2 Awards

2 Marriages

Who is RZA?

BIOGRAPHY

RZA — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

RZA was born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs on July 5, 1969 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City. He was named after Robert F. Kennedy. Growing up, his cousins GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard were part of his extended family—according to the New York Daily News, his family is allegedly the largest extended family in New York City. His cousins GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard would later become Wu-Tang Clan members. He attended Curtis High School on Staten Island.

Career

In 1992, RZA co-founded the Wu-Tang Clan with his cousins and eight other MCs. The group’s 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers, entirely produced by RZA, revolutionized hip-hop with its dark, cinematic sound. He then formed the horrorcore group Gravediggaz in 1994, releasing 6 Feet Deep. Under the alias Bobby Digital, he released his first solo album in 1998. In the 2000s, he moved into film scoring, composing for Kill Bill 2003 and directing The Man with the Iron Fists 2012. He also acted in TV shows like The Simpsons and Snowfall.

Personal life

RZA married Talani Diggs in 2009, and was previously married to Eboni Mills. He has a brother named Divine, with whom he founded Wu-Tang Enterprises. According to the New York Daily News, his family is allegedly the largest extended family in New York City. His cousins GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard were fellow Wu-Tang Clan members.

Legacy

RZA’s production on Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 debut redefined hip-hop sound. He pioneered the horrorcore subgenre with Gravediggaz. He composed scores for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill 2003. He received the Echo Pop Award and Amadeus Austrian Music Awards. RZA is remembered as the architect of the Wu-Tang Clan’s sound.

Filmography.

FILMS · 86

Browse the complete filmography of RZA — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Simpsons

1989
TV

The Daily Show

1996
TV

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015
TV

Conan

2010
TV

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019
TV

Hot Ones

2015
TV

Californication

2007
TV

Snowfall

2017
TV

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005
TV

America's Got Talent

2006
TV

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003
TV

Fresh off the Boat

2015
Movie

Nobody 2

2025
Movie

Nobody

2021

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by RZA — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Amadeus Austrian Music Awards
Echo Pop Award for the Hit of the Year

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 1

RZA's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon Goodreads

The Wu-Tang Manual

by RZA (Rapper) et al.

Did you know?

FACTS · 16

Little-known facts about RZA — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He was named after Robert F. Kennedy.
He has collaborated with directors Jim Jarmusch and Quentin Tarantino and counts them as good friends.
Flavor Flav is his distant cousin.
He pioneered the gritty, dark, cinematic sounds of mid-1990s hip-hop.
He co-founded Wu-Tang Clan with his cousins, the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard Russell Jones and The GZA Gary Grice.
His collaborations outside Wu-Tang include Björk, The Notorious B.I.G., Kool G Rap, MF Doom, Q-Tip, and Shaquille O’Neal among many others.
According to the New York Daily News, his family is allegedly the largest extended family living in New York City.
He was offered the role of Brown in The Departed 2006 but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts.
He developed two Wu-Tang reunion albums: one for commercial release and one to be auctioned as a single piece.
He shot an unreleased movie about his alter ego Bobby Digital in the late 1990s, and later directed his debut feature The Man with the Iron Fists in 2012.
He has a brother named Divine, with whom he founded Wu-Tang Enterprises; Divine shares executive-producer credit on Wu-Tang albums.
He was a member of Gravediggaz in the mid-1990s, a group that pioneered horrorcore hip-hop.
At the 2008 San Diego Comic Con, he stated he is a fan of the anime film Ninja Scroll.
He has founded multiple record labels including WuMusic Group, Soul Temple Records, Razor Sharp, and WuTang Productions.
In 2010 he began shooting his directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists 2012.
He is a hip-hop MC and producer whose work with Wu-Tang Clan defines his career.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about RZA.

When was RZA born?

RZA was born on July 5, 1969. He was given the name Robert Fitzgerald Diggs.
Where was RZA born?

RZA was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.
How old is RZA?

As of 2025, RZA is 56 years old. He was born on July 5, 1969.
What is RZA's real name?

RZA’s real name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs. He was named after Robert F. Kennedy.
What is RZA's native name?

RZA’s native name is listed as Robert F. Diggs.
What does RZA do for a living?

RZA is an actor, writer, and composer. He is best known as the leader of Wu-Tang Clan.
What nationality is RZA?

RZA is American.
What language does RZA speak?

RZA’s native language is English.
Who is RZA married to?

RZA married Talani Diggs in 2009. He was previously married to Eboni Mills.
Where did RZA go to school?

RZA attended Curtis High School on Staten Island.
What awards has RZA won?

RZA has won the Amadeus Austrian Music Awards and the Echo Pop Award for the Hit of the Year.
How many awards has RZA won?

RZA has won 2 major awards. He also has 12 award nominations.
What is RZA best known for?

RZA is best known as the de facto leader and primary producer of Wu-Tang Clan. He produced their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang and has acted in films like The Man with the Iron Fists and Kill Bill.
What is RZA's Instagram?

RZA’s Instagram username is @rza.
How tall is RZA?

RZA is 6 feet 2 inches 1.88 m tall.
What are RZA's nicknames and what do they mean?

RZA has many nicknames including Bobby Digital, which is his alter ego, and The Abbott, which refers to his leadership role in Wu-Tang Clan. Other nicknames include Prince Rakeem, Bobby Steels, and Ruler Zig Zag Zig Allah.
What aliases has RZA used and in what contexts?

RZA has used aliases like Prince Rakeem early in his career, Bobby Digital for solo work, and The Rzarector as a member of Gravediggaz. These names reflect different phases of his career.
Who are RZA's relatives?

RZA’s cousins include GZA and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, both original members of Wu-Tang Clan. He also has a brother named Divine. Flavor Flav is his distant cousin.
How many award nominations has RZA received?

RZA has received 12 award nominations throughout his career.
How did RZA get his start in music?

RZA began his music career as a rapper under the name Prince Rakeem. In 1992, he co-founded the Wu-Tang Clan.
What is the Wu-Tang Clan and what was RZA's role?

The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group formed in 1992. RZA served as the de facto leader and primary producer, shaping their sound on albums like Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers.
What is the Gravediggaz and how is RZA involved?

The Gravediggaz was a horrorcore group formed in 1994. RZA was a member under the name The Rzarector, and they pioneered the horrorcore subgenre.
What movies has RZA directed?

RZA made his directorial debut with The Man with the Iron Fists in 2012. He also shot an unreleased film about his alter ego Bobby Digital in the late 1990s.
What TV shows has RZA appeared in?

RZA has appeared in TV shows including The Simpsons, Californication, and Snowfall.
Does RZA have any siblings?

RZA has a brother named Divine. Together they founded Wu-Tang Enterprises, and Divine shares executive-producer credit on Wu-Tang albums.
What record labels has RZA founded?

RZA has founded multiple record labels including WuMusic Group, Soul Temple Records, Razor Sharp, and WuTang Productions.
What is RZA's connection to Quentin Tarantino?

RZA collaborated with director Quentin Tarantino on the Kill Bill films. He contributed to the soundtrack and acted in the movies.
Is RZA related to Flavor Flav?

Yes, RZA is a distant cousin of Flavor Flav.
What is RZA's most famous album as a producer?

RZA’s most famous production is the Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers released in 1993.
Has RZA acted in any films besides his own?

Yes, RZA has acted in films such as Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Coffee and Cigarettes, and American Gangster. He also voices himself in The Simpsons.

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Audited & updated by

If something's wrong in a profile, Daniel will find it. With 7 years of research experience, he's developed an almost unreasonable eye for inaccurate career timelines, misattributed credits, and dates that don't quite add up. He doesn't publish anything he can't verify. The profiles on Famousy are as accurate as they are largely because of work you'll never see his name on.

Published on June 2, 2026

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