Zach Braff
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Zachary Israel Braff (born April 6, 1975) is an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as John Michael "J.D." Dorian on the NBC/ABC television series Scrubs (2001–2010), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005 as well as for three Golden Globe Awards from 2005 to 2007. He starred in The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000), The Last Kiss (2006), The Ex (2006), and In Dubious Battle (2016). He has done voice-work for Chicken Little (2005) and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013).
In 2004, Braff made his directorial debut with Garden State in which he also starred. Additionally, he wrote the screenplay and compiled the soundtrack album. He shot the film in his home state of New Jersey with a budget of $2.5 million. The film made over $35 million at the box office and was praised by critics, leading it to gain a cult following.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He won numerous awards for his directing work and also won the Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album in 2005. In 2014, Braff directed his second film, Wish I Was Here, which he partially funded with a Kickstarter campaign.<ref name="3news.co.nz">Template:Cite news</ref>
Braff has appeared on stage in the dark comedy All New People, in which he starred, and also wrote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The play premiered in New York City in 2011 before playing in London's West End. He also played the lead role in a musical adaptation of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway in 2014.
Early life
Zachary Israel Braff<ref name="abcnews.go.com">'Scrubs' Star Zach Braff Wows U. of Florida Fans Template:Webarchive</ref> was born on April 6, 1975,<ref name=tvgbio>Template:Cite web</ref> in South Orange, New Jersey, and grew up there and in neighboring Maplewood.<ref name = MSH>Template:Cite news</ref> His father, Harold Irwin "Hal" Braff (1934–2018), was a trial attorney,<ref name = MSH /> professor and alumnus at Rutgers Law School, a founder of the state's American Inns of Court (AIC) and an elected trustee of the National Inns of Court Foundation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His mother, Anne Hutchinson Maynard, worked as a clinical psychologist.<ref name=whosh1>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> His parents divorced and remarried others during Braff's childhood.<ref name="ascentral">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=r1>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Braff's father was born into a Jewish family<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Braff's mother, originally a Protestant, converted to Judaism before marrying his father.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Braff said that he had a "very strong conservative/orthodox [Jewish] upbringing". He had his bar mitzvah service at Oheb Shalom Congregation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=r1/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2005, he said that he was "not a huge organized-religion guy",<ref name=llh>Template:Cite web</ref> and, in 2013, that "the religion [Judaism] doesn't necessarily work for me",<ref name=notwork>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Matthews">Template:Cite web</ref>
Braff's older brother is author Joshua Braff while his other brother, Adam Braff, is a writer and producer. His stepsister, Jessica Kirson, is a stand-up comedian.<ref name=r1/>
Braff wanted to be a filmmaker since his early childhood; he has described it as his "life dream".<ref name="ctnow.com">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Braff was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at age ten.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During his childhood, Braff was a friend of future Fugees member Lauryn Hill at Columbia High School in Maplewood.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
Braff attended Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts "training center" for youth actors ages 10 to 18. Stagedoor was where Braff met and befriended actor Josh Charles. Braff also knows Stagedoor alums Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, and Joshua Radin well.<ref name= "Matthews"/> Braff studied film studies at Northwestern University's School of Communication and became a brother of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity; he graduated in the class of 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
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Early work and breakthrough
One of Braff's earliest roles was in High, a proposed 1989 CBS television series with a cast that also included Gwyneth Paltrow and Craig Ferguson; the television pilot never made it on air.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Braff appeared in the 1990s series The Baby-sitters Club, in the episode "Dawn Saves the Trees".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in Woody Allen's 1993 film Manhattan Murder Mystery. In 1998, Braff had a part in a George C. Wolfe production of Macbeth for New York City's Public Theater.<ref name="observer">Template:Cite web</ref>
Braff played "J.D." (short for the character's full name, John Dorian) on the medical comedy television series Scrubs, which debuted in 2001. The role was Braff's first major role in a television show. Braff was nominated for three Golden Globes and an Emmy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for his work on the show. Braff directed several episodes of Scrubs, including the 100th episode, "My Way Home". For the show's ninth season Braff was a cast member for six episodes and also served as one of the executive producers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, multiple entertainment trade publications confirmed that Braff had been officially attached to a reboot of Scrubs produced by ABC and 20th Television.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmmaking
Braff starred in Garden State, also directing and producing it. The film was filmed in his home state of New Jersey. Producers were initially reluctant to finance the film; Braff wrote it in six months.<ref name="metrouk">Template:Cite news</ref> At the 2005 Grammy Awards, his "mixtape"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for the Garden State soundtrack.<ref name="oxfordpress" />
On April 24, 2013, Braff started a Kickstarter campaign to finance the film Wish I Was Here, based on a script he wrote with his brother Adam.<ref name="3news.co.nz"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The $2 million goal was reached in three days.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He directed and starred in the film which was released in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Braff was the executive producer of the documentary Video Games: The Movie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also one of the executive producers of The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, released in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has directed several music videos: Gavin DeGraw's "Chariot",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Joshua Radin's "Closer", Radin's "I'd Rather Be With You",Template:Citation needed and Lazlo Bane's "Superman" which is the theme song from Scrubs.<ref name=5projects /> His music production led to newfound success for some of the artists featured on his film soundtracks including The Shins, who were prominently featured on the Garden State and Scrubs soundtracks, resulting in the expression "the Zach Braff effect".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2020, Braff directed the short film In The Time It Takes To Get There, starring Alicia Silverstone and Florence Pugh. The film was based on a poster created by Sam West, the winner of an Adobe contest in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, Braff was nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award for directing the Apple TV+ comedy show Ted Lasso.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the Ted Lasso episode "Biscuits".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Braff wrote, directed, and produced the drama film A Good Person starring Morgan Freeman and Florence Pugh, it was released on March 24, 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In development
Braff was expected to direct Open Hearts, a remake of the 2002 Danish film Elsker dig for evigt (Love You Forever). The film is about a woman who has an affair with her paralyzed husband's doctor, whose wife caused the accident that put her husband in a wheelchair. It was first revealed that Braff was directing Open Hearts in 2006,<ref name="movies.about.com">Template:Cite web</ref> however, the film was eventually canceled. Braff said "It fell apart at the last second due to scheduling and budget, as so many movies do."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the same time, Braff's film The Last Kiss was being released.
In 2009, Braff was working on the script for Swingles, a film based on a spec script by Duncan Birmingham;<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Duncan Birmingham</ref> he would direct and star in the film alongside Cameron Diaz.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2021, no further public announcements about the film's development status has been released.
Other roles
Along with other Scrubs cast members, Braff has a cameo role in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.
He also voiced the titular character in the Disney animated film Chicken Little (2005), and has reprised the role in various Disney video games such as Chicken Little, Kingdom Hearts II, Chicken Little: Ace in Action and Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX. Braff has also done voiceovers for commercials, including a PUR water campaign, Wendy's in 2007 and 2008, and in Cottonelle as the voice of the puppy.<ref name=5projects>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Keller, Joel. Zach Braff says he's not a jerk TV Squad (June 26, 2007). Retrieved on 2-13-09. Template:Webarchive</ref> He also provided the voice of Finley in the Disney film Oz The Great and Powerful (2013). In 2005, Braff was featured on Punk'd when he was tricked into chasing and then beating a supposed vandal who appeared to be spray-painting his brand new Porsche.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Braff was in talks to star in the film Fletch Won and had signed on to play the role eventually played by Dane Cook in Mr. Brooks,<ref name="Dane cook">Template:Cite news</ref> but dropped out of both roles to work on Open Hearts, which he adapted from a Danish film and will direct. He has also co-written a film version of Andrew Henry's Meadow, a children's book, with his brother, and was scheduled to direct one of the segments for the film New York, I Love You.<ref name="Newyorkl">Template:Cite news</ref>
In July 2009, he signed on as an executive producer of the documentary Heart of Stone to "help spread the word about it."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Braff starred in the romantic drama The Last Kiss, which opened on September 15, 2006. Braff tweaked several parts of Paul Haggis' script for the film, as he wanted the script to be as "real as possible" and "really courageous" regarding its subject matter.<ref name="mtvkiss">Template:Cite web</ref> As with Garden State, Braff was involved with the film's soundtrack, serving as executive producer.<ref name="oxfordpress">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="mtvkiss"/> The film's director, Tony Goldwyn, compared Braff to a younger version of Tim Allen, describing Braff as "incredibly accessible to an audience... a real guy, an everyman."<ref name="ascentral" />
In 2007, Braff starred in the film The Ex (2007). He also starred in the Canadian indie film The High Cost of Living with Québécois actress Isabelle Blais in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Directed by Deborah Chow, the film was shot in Montreal and principal photography wrapped on March 9, 2010. Braff stated he enjoyed filming in the country in which The Last Kiss was also shot.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was also shown at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Braff played the lead role of Alex in Alex, Inc., a television comedy based on a family man who quit his radio career to launch a podcasting company. ABC cancelled the show after one season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Theater
Braff returned to the Public Theater in 2002, in a part in Twelfth Night, staged in Central Park.<ref name="observer"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In mid-2010, Braff took a lead role in Trust, at the Second Stage Theatre, a contemporary Off-Broadway theater company. The play ran from July 23 to September 12, extending its scheduled run by one week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Braff wrote on Facebook that he was "Having so much fun doing Trust." The play co-starred Sutton Foster, Ari Graynor, and Bobby Cannavale, was written by Paul Weitz and directed by Peter DuBois. Braff played Henry, a wealthy married man who "looks to find something real in the most unlikely of places."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In early 2011, Braff announced that he had written a play to be performed at the Second Stage Theatre in mid-2011. His play, All New People, is set on Long Beach Island and centers on Charlie, a 35-year-old from Braff's home state New Jersey. The play was directed by Peter DuBois, who directed Braff in Trust the previous year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When announcing the play on Facebook, Braff wrote that 'one of my dreams comes true'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, Braff moved the play on tour to the UK, playing in Manchester at the Manchester Opera House between February 8–11, Glasgow at the King's Theatre between February 14–18, and finally in London for 10 weeks at the Duke of York's Theatre from February 22.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On April 10, 2014, Braff opened on Broadway in the musical Bullets Over Broadway The Musical, an adaptation of Woody Allen's 1994 film, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.<ref>Hetrick, Adam. "Zach Braff and Marin Mazzie Star in Woody Allen Musical 'Bullets Over Broadway', Opening April 10" playbill.com, April 10, 2014 Template:Webarchive</ref>
Other pursuits
In 2009, Braff opened the Mermaid Oyster Bar in New York City with chef and high school friend Laurence Edelman, as well as Danny Abrams.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Proprietors of the Rio Theater in Monte Rio, California, credited Braff with making the donation that put their Kickstarter campaign over the target to buy a digital projector over its $60,000 goal in May 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2020, Braff and Scrubs co-star Donald Faison launched a Scrubs rewatch podcast titled Fake Doctors, Real Friends. Distributed by iHeartRadio, the duo also shares stories and experiences of their time on set.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Guests on the podcast include their co-stars Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes, Neil Flynn, John C. McGinley, Christa Miller, and Ken Jenkins as well as the show's creator, Bill Lawrence and director Michael Spiller.
Personal life
Braff dated actress Mandy Moore from 2004 to 2006.<ref name= "MM2004">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "MM">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "ZB on MM">Template:Cite web</ref> He also had a relationship with model Taylor Bagley from 2009 to 2014. His relationship with actress Florence Pugh from 2019 to 2022 generated controversy due to their 21-year age gap;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he directed her in his 2019 short film In the Time it Takes to Get There<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the drama film A Good Person. Braff primarily lives in Los Angeles and has an apartment in Union Square, Manhattan, New York City previously owned by theatre director Tom O'Horgan which he purchased in 2007.<ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/how-im-living-now-zach-braff-actor-writer-director-1292285/</ref><ref>https://nymag.com/homedesign/spring2012/zach-braff-2012-5/</ref>
In November 2008, Braff earned his pilot's license flying a Cirrus SR20.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political views
In 2012, Braff endorsed the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama.<ref name="lvrj">Template:Cite news</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Manhattan Murder Mystery | Nick Lipton | |
| 1994 | My Summer As A Girl | Tony / Tammy | |
| 1999 | Getting to Know You | Wesley | |
| 2000 | Endsville | Dean | |
| Blue Moon | Young Fred | ||
| The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy | Benji | ||
| 2004 | Garden State | Andrew Largeman | Also director and writer Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Filmmaker Crystal Image Award Florida Film Critics Circle's Pauline Kael Breakout Award Hollywood Breakthrough Award for Breakthrough Directing Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature (shared with producers Pamela Abdy, Gary Gilbert, Dan Halsted and Richard Klubeck) National Board of Review Award for Best Directorial Debut Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Filmmaker Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Breakout of the Year – Behind the Camera Nominated – Empire Award for Best Newcomer Nominated – Humanitas Prize for Sundance Film Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay Nominated – Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Natalie Portman) Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor: Drama Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Blush Scene Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Male Breakout Star Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock (shared with Natalie Portman) Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Love Scene Nominated – Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay |
| 2005 | Chicken Little | Chicken Little | Voice<ref name="btva">Template:Cite web A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> |
| 2006 | The Last Kiss | Michael | |
| The Ex | Tom Reilly | ||
| 2010 | The High Cost of Living | Henry | |
| 2012 | The Color of Time | Albert | |
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful | Frank / Finley | Voice<ref name="btva" /> |
| 2014 | Wish I Was Here | Aidan Bloom | Also director and writer |
| 2016 | In Dubious Battle | Connor | |
| 2017 | The Disaster Artist | Himself | |
| 2020 | Percy | Jackson | |
| The Comeback Trail | Walter Creason | ||
| 2022 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Paul Baker | |
| Moonshot | Leon Kovi | ||
| 2023 | A Little White Lie | Real Shriver | |
| 2024 | French Girl | Gordon Kinski |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | High | Schoolkid | Unaired CBS pilot |
| 1990 | The Baby-Sitters Club | David Cummings | Episode: "Dawn Saves the Trees" |
| 1994 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Tony / Tammy | Episode: "My Summer as a Girl" |
| 2001–2010 | Scrubs | John "J.D." Dorian | Main role and narrator (175 episodes) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2005, 2006, 2007) Nominated – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (2005, 2006) Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Television Star (2005) Nominated – People's Choice Award for Best Leading Star (2005) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2005) Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2005) Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) |
| 2002 | Clone High | Paul Revere / X-Stream Mike | Voice, 2 episodes |
| It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Himself/John "J.D." Dorian | Television film | |
| 2005–2006 | Arrested Development | Phillip Litt | Uncredited 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Nobody's Watching | Himself | Television film |
| 2009 | Scrubs: Interns | John "J.D." Dorian | Episode: "Our Meeting with J.D." |
| 2010 | Cougar Town | Pizza Guy | Uncredited Episode: "A One Story Town" |
| 2012 | The Exes | Chuck Feeney | Episode: "He's Gotta Have It" |
| 2014 | Community | J.D. | Voice, episode: "Repilot"; uncredited |
| Inside Amy Schumer | Rob | Episode: "I'm So Bad" | |
| 2015 | Undateable | Zach | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Bill Nye Saves the World | Himself | Episode: "Earth is a Hot Mess" |
| 2017, 2020 | BoJack Horseman | Himself | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Alex, Inc. | Alex Schuman | Main role; 10 episodes |
| 2022 | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Freck | Voice, episode: "Part III" |
| 2024 | Bad Monkey | Doctor Israel "Izzy" O'Peele | 2 episodes |
| Bookie | Loco Rocco | Episode: "Make It Look Like an Accident" | |
| 2025 | Long Story Short | Gilad | Episode: "Hannah's Dance Recital" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Chicken Little | Chicken Little |
| 2005 | Kingdom Hearts II<ref name="btva" /> | |
| 2006 | Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action | |
| 2014 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix | Chicken Little (archive audio) |
| 2017 | Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Macbeth | Fleance/Young Siward | Off-Broadway<ref name=abouttheartists.com>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2002 | Twelfth Night | Sebastian | |
| 2010 | Trust | Performer | Second Stage Theatre Production<ref name=abouttheartists.com/> |
| 2011 | All New People | ||
| 2012 | All New People | Charlie | West End Premiere<ref name=abouttheartists.com/> |
| 2014 | Bullets Over Broadway The Musical | David Shayne | Original Broadway Production<ref name=abouttheartists.com/> |
Filmmaking credits
Discography
| Year | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Garden State | Compilation producer Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media |
| 2007 | Scrubs: "My Musical" Soundtrack |
References
External links
Template:Commons Template:Wikiquote
- 1975 births
- 20th-century American Jews
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- 21st-century American Jews
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- American actors with disabilities
- American comedy film directors
- American male comedians
- American male film actors
- American male screenwriters
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- American people of English descent
- American television directors
- American writers with disabilities
- Columbia High School (New Jersey) alumni
- Comedians from Essex County, New Jersey
- Film directors from New Jersey
- Film directors with disabilities
- Film producers from New Jersey
- Grammy Award winners
- Jewish American comedians
- Jewish American male actors
- Jewish American screenwriters
- Jewish male comedians
- Living people
- Male actors from Maplewood, New Jersey
- Male actors from South Orange, New Jersey
- New Jersey Democrats
- Northwestern University School of Communication alumni
- People with obsessive–compulsive disorder
- Screenwriters from New Jersey
- Television producers from New Jersey
- Writers from Maplewood, New Jersey
- Writers from South Orange, New Jersey