An adorably goofy actor, Braff was interested in entertainment from an early age, attending a performing arts summer camp and studying film at Northwestern University. He initially concentrated on theater and film work, landing a role in a stage production of
Macbeth starring Alec Baldwin, and a handful of small movie parts in the 1990s. In 2001, he shot to stardom as a lovable but naive doctor on the zany hospital-set sitcom
Scrubs. By the time
Scrubs reached its ninth season, Braff starred in only a handful of episodes and took on a greater behind-the-scenes role, serving as one of the show's executive producers. Throughout the series' run he also directed several episodes, and made his big-screen directorial debut in 2004 with
Garden State, a favorite of fans and critics, in which he starred, and which he also wrote. Off-screen, the native Jersey boy had a two-year relationship with Mandy Moore that ended in 2006; he was also involved with another actress, Shiri Appleby. He also had to deal with tabloid rumors that he was a womanizing party boy, claims he disputed during a 2006 appearance on the
Late Show With David Letterman. In October 2009, a rumor about Braff's death was widely circulated on the Internet. Braff then posted a video on YouTube in which he blasted the originator of the rumor and proved that the story of his death was indeed greatly exaggerated.
Zach Braff Fast Facts:
- Attended Stagedoor Manor, a summer theater camp for young people in upstate New York, and went on to star with fellow Stagedoor alum Natalie Portman in his directorial feature debut, Garden State (2004).
- At 14, was cast opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in an unsold TV pilot produced by her father, Bruce Paltrow.
- First movie role was in Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).
- Performed opposite Alec Baldwin, Angela Bassett and Liev Schreiber at New York's Public Theatre production of Macbeth.
- Directed music videos, including the Scrubs theme song, "Superman."
- Provided the voice of the Cottonelle puppy in TV commercials.
- After a widespread rumor about his death hit the Internet in 2009, he posted a video on YouTube proving he was alive.
- Zach Braff Relationships:
- Josh Braff - Brother
- Adam Braff - Brother
- Shoshanna Braff - Sister
- Mandy Moore - Ex-significant Other
- Taylor Bagley - Ex-significant Other
- Shiri Appleby - Ex-significant Other
- Zach Braff Awards:
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2006 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2005 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2007 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 2004 Grammy: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media - Winner
- College:
- Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States (BFA in Film, 1997)