Taye Diggs Is Still Looking for Love in His 50s, Just Like His Latest Movie Character: 'I'll Never Give Up' (Exclusive)

Perennial heartthrob Taye Diggs has his hands full as a dad who falls for the mom of his daughter's boyfriend in Lifetime's new romantic comedy His, Hers & Ours, out Nov. 1.

In real life, the star, 54, tells PEOPLE he's just as busy, and knows what it's like to be on the hunt for love. Read on for the full interview.

PEOPLE: This new film is under Lifetime's Terry McMillan Banner. You know her work well.

TAYE DIGGS: She has a very special place in my heart because she gave me my first real gig with How Stella Got Her Groove Back [in 1998]. She signed off on me. She made me realize how lucky I am, how much fun working on a movie can be and the importance of great writing. I've made a good living off of romance and she was the one, the first one that took a risk on me. So I'm grateful.

Why did this new romance film resonate with you?

TD: I'll be honest, there was a moment where I thought I just wanted to kind of take a break from acting and focus on maybe hosting or having a talk show, just because I had gotten kind of bored and I wasn't feeling the excitement I usually get from acting. And then I did this movie and it sparked that flame again. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to do romantic comedies.

What's your favorite rom-com?

TD: One of my favorites is Crazy, Stupid, Love. And you can't go wrong with Pretty Woman. Whenever that comes on I leave it on. Love Jones is great. Oh, and Hitch!

What's something you and your His, Hers & Ours character Darius have in common?

TD: Being in your 50s, being single, being a Black man, trying to figure out if he's ready for love. That's a very specific kind of genre. I can pull on life experiences way more than I was able to before.

How is the single life treating you?

TD: It's just different. I'm older now and I have certain boundaries and my tastes have changed and my patience is low. I can barely use my phone as it is! Now I have to use it to communicate with someone of the opposite sex? When do you text back? How long do you wait? Monosyllabic answers. I just don't know. It's been an interesting trip.

But you're not giving up?

TD: I'll never give up. I'm just saying it's not easy. It takes some work and attention. I'm taking it one day at a time because my taste will change hourly. I'll want to be in a relationship, having another kid, and then the next day I can imagine myself being single until I die. My moods are constantly swinging, so we'll see how it ends up.

How is fatherhood going, with your 16-year-old son Walker (with ex-wife Idina Menzel)?

TD: That's great! He's a little hoop star and I'm learning more and more about him and myself every day. I've got a really good kid, but hormones are a real thing. The silent treatment! I'm constantly monitoring myself, so I'm not that parent that's always saying, 'is everything okay? What's wrong?' I have to trust that when he wants to talk, he'll talk. I'm grateful to get any attention that he wants to dole out.

Is he anything like you were when you were a teen?

TD: Well, in my early teens, I was a nerd, very insecure, withdrawn, and then I went to a performing arts high school, and that's where everything changed. But that nerd is still in me. I'll second guess myself in times where people think I shouldn't, and Walker doesn't have that. He has been popular from preschool. He's easy on the eyes, he's athletic, so he's had it pretty good up to this point. I'm hoping, knock on wood, that it continues. We did something right.

How is coparenting going for you and Idina these days?

TD: Great, so great. Again, knock on wood. It could be so far from what it is now, going in a negative direction, and I attribute that to just both of us trying to put Walker first. He's at an age now where he'll talk about us to each other. So now it takes a little bit of effort to not chime in and to just let him. It's weird because I want to always take up for Idina, but at the same time, if he thinks I'm on her side he'll clam up and he won't say anything for the rest of the night. So I just have to listen.

What makes you happiest these days?

TD: Walker. I hope it doesn't feel like a lot of pressure on him, but he keeps me solid. He makes me laugh. So I've been alright. I feel like some really great things are coming, and I'm excited for that.

His, Hers & Ours premieres Nov. 1 at 8p ET on Lifetime.