'Day Break' star signs for back-door pilot

Taye Diggs is catching another break at ABC.

Diggs, who starred in the network's short-lived series "Day Break" earlier this season, will guest star in an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" later this season that will also serve as a back-door pilot for a possible spinoff series. Separately, the show will also have Hector Elizondo ("Chicago Hope," "The Princess Diaries") as a guest star.

ABC isn't offering up any information about Diggs' character (and also neglects to mention he starred in one of its shows not three months ago). The would-be spinoff will focus on Kate Walsh's character, neonatal surgeon Addison Montgomery; The Hollywood Reporter says the two-hour episode, planned for May sweeps, will have her on the verge of leaving Seattle.

Diggs recently signed a holding deal with ABC Television Studio (formerly Touchstone TV), which produces "Grey's Anatomy," and his production company also has a relationship with the studio.

In addition to "Day Break," Diggs' recent credits include the feature-film version of "Rent," UPN's "Kevin Hill" and a guest arc on "Will & Grace."

Elizondo, meanwhile, will appear in a separate episode as Callie's (Sara Ramirez) father. The Emmy-winning actor, whose long list of credits also includes "Pretty Woman," "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" and the forthcoming "Love in the Time of Cholera," is currently filming his episode, but an airdate hasn't been set.