Zach Braff (J.D., 'Scrubs')

April 6, 1975 in South Orange, New Jersey

Single

After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in film, Braff worked onstage in Shakespeare productions at New York City’s Public Theater. He had a handful of small roles in movies and guest spots on TV shows, and starred in the indie films Getting to Know You and The Broken Hearts Club.

In 2001, Braff debuted as Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian, the main character in the NBC medical sitcom Scrubs. Braff’s affable, low-key charm made the role of neophyte doctor J.D. easy to relate to, and his genial voiceover narration anchored the show. Scrubs started with solid ratings and positive reviews, although its viewership slipped over the course of seven seasons. Eventually, the show moved to ABC for its eighth season in 2009. Braff has been nominated for three Golden Globes and one Emmy for his role as J.D. He’s stated that the eighth season of Scrubs will be his last, regardless of whether the show continues.

In 2004, Braff wrote, directed and starred in the indie comedy-drama Garden State, which played at the Sundance Film Festival and received overwhelmingly positive reviews when it was released in theaters. Garden State went on to gross over $25 million at the box office, and its soundtrack, hand-picked by Braff, became a launching pad for indie-rock bands like The Shins. The movie has been cited as a generational touchstone for people who were in their early 20s at the time it was released.

Following the success of Garden State, Braff starred in another romantic comedy-drama, The Last Kiss, and the romantic comedy The Ex, neither of which fared particularly well. He also provided the voice of the title character in the Disney animated feature Chicken Little. His second writing and directing project is set to be an adaptation of the Danish film Open Hearts.

Scrubs (2001-present)
The Ex (2007)
The Last Kiss (2006)
Chicken Little (2005)
Garden State (2004)
The Broken Hearts Club (2000)
Getting to Know You (1999)