Zach Braff: From Scrubs JD to acclaimed director

Zach Braff, widely recognized as JD from the television series Scrubs, has established a significant career as a writer and director following the release of his breakout 2004 film, Garden State. This directorial debut, which he also wrote and starred in, achieved substantial commercial success, grossing over $35 million worldwide on a $2.5 million budget, and earned Braff a Grammy for its soundtrack.

Braff's directorial work extends to helming heist comedy Going in Style in 2017, starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin. He also wrote and directed the 2023 drama A Good Person, featuring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman, and received an Emmy nomination for his directing work on an episode of Ted Lasso.

In addition to his directing endeavors, Braff reprised his role as JD in a recent revival of Scrubs, which aired its second season starting September 30 in the US. His next film project is Clean Hands, a crime drama inspired by true events, where Braff portrays a narcotics officer whose personal life becomes entangled with his work when his teenage daughter develops a heroin addiction.