Zach Braff Biography

Zach Braff, Actor, Director, and Writer

Date of Birth: April 6, 1975

Birthplace: South Orange, New Jersey

Sign: Aries

Zachary Braff was born on April 6, 1975 to Hal Braff and Anne Brodzinsky. Braff was raised in a Jewish home in South Orange, New Jersey. The actor's parents divorced when he was a child. Braff graduated from Columbia High School and attended Northwestern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in film.

Braff's big break came on the sitcom "Scrubs," which debuted in 2001. Braff plays the lead role of John "J.D." Dorian, a role for which he was nominated for three Golden Globes and an Emmy. Braff directed several episodes of "Scrubs." The show aired on NBC for its first seven seasons, but will move to ABC in the fall of 2008. Braff said that the upcoming season of "Scrubs" will be his last.

In 2004, the actor directed and starred in "Garden State," an offbeat film, that gained major success. Braff won a Grammy Award in 2005 for "Best Compilation Soundtrack for a Motion Picture" for "Garden State."

Zach Braff continued in his role as director, getting behind the camera to direct several music videos including a video for Gavin DeGraw's hit song "Chariot." Recently, Braff starred in the 2007 film "The Ex" alongside Amanda Peet. The actor is currently working on "Open Hearts," an adaptation of a Danish film and will also direct a segment for the film "New York, I Love You."

During the filming of "Garden State," Braff dated actress and singer Bonnie Summerville, who contributed a song to the movie's soundtrack. In 2004, Braff began dating singer Mandy Moore, who appeared on Scrubs as Braff's girlfriend.

The tabloids linked the actor to Jessica Simpson in 2007, but those rumors proved to be false.