---
name: "Zach Braff"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zach-braff"
fi1m_id: "zach-braff"
imdb_id: "nm0103785"
tmdb_id: 5367
wikidata_id: "Q139330"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "6 April 1975"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 54
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-05T12:50:29.585279+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Zach Braff

## Identity

Zach Braff

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zach-braff
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zach-braff
- **IMDb ID:** nm0103785
- **TMDB ID:** 5367
- **Wikidata ID:** Q139330
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Braff, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139330, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0103785/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5367

Actor and director. Born 6 April 1975 in South Orange, New Jersey, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 6 April 1975, South Orange, New Jersey, USA
- **Active:** 2004–present
- **Also known as:** Zachary Israel Braff, Закари Израэль Брафф, 잭 브라프, زک براف, 扎卡里·伊斯雷爾·柴克·布瑞夫
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 2 acting, 4 directing, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Bill Lawrence](https://film.one/person/bill-lawrence.md), [Annie Mebane](https://film.one/person/annie-mebane.md), [Anu Valia](https://film.one/person/anu-valia.md), [Ashley Nicole Black](https://film.one/person/ashley-nicole-black.md), [Brett Goldstein](https://film.one/person/brett-goldstein.md), [Phil Dunster](https://film.one/person/phil-dunster.md), [Sasha Garron](https://film.one/person/sasha-garron.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 54, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 56 (2), 2010s 74 (1), 2020s 66 (4)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Braff, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139330, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0103785/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5367

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Ted Lasso*](https://film.one/tv/ted-lasso.md) (78), [*Shrinking*](https://film.one/tv/shrinking.md) (61)
- **Peacock:** [*Girls Like Girls*](https://film.one/film/girls-like-girls.md) (67)
- **HBO Max:** [*Rooster*](https://film.one/tv/rooster.md) (57)
- **Disney+:** [*Chicken Little*](https://film.one/film/chicken-little.md) (42)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Zach Braff

> Zach Braff's moving cameras and brisk physical comedy suit an ensemble with room for tenderness. We value his contribution to *Ted Lasso*, though its warmth owes too much to the cast to be credited to a director alone.

Braff likes to keep the camera moving through a comedy scene. Physical humour and brisk pacing give way to quieter emotional beats, particularly in his half-hour television work. It is an approach that suits *Ted Lasso* (2020), where he directed the second episode, ‘Biscuits’. The series is warm and well played, though the jokes do not always justify the wait. His preference for movement is useful up to a point; the actors still have to make the pauses worth staying for.

His features have given him more responsibility for what those quieter moments contain. *Garden State* (2004) was his feature directing debut, which he also wrote and starred in; *Wish I Was Here* (2014) followed with family and grief. *Going in Style* (2017) was a comedy remake starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin. With *A Good Person* (2023), he was again writing and directing, mixing grief with lighter moments. Some critics found *Garden State* self-satisfied, a useful caution against assuming that a personal story is automatically an insightful one.

In *Ted Lasso*, Jason Sudeikis and the responsive ensemble make the patience worthwhile. We warmed to their company because the performances kept us interested when the supply of jokes thinned out. The cultural clashes can be laboured, and a lively camera cannot be expected to solve that. Braff's episode helped establish the programme's early visual approach and tone, work that matters in an ensemble comedy. Our affection for the series should not, however, be read as giving its occasional director credit for every successful scene.

His recurring collaboration with showrunner Bill Lawrence is important here. Their established shorthand gives Braff room to play with the style while keeping within a programme's tone. That seems a sensible use of a director who enjoys physical comedy and can slow down long enough to let a scene become serious. Start with *Ted Lasso*, provided a responsive cast and a warm temperament matter more to you than a joke that lands every time.

## Biography

Zachary Israel Braff is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for playing Dr. John Dorian in the television series *Scrubs* (2001–2010, 2026). Braff graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in film.

In 2004 he made his feature directorial debut with *Garden State*, which he also wrote and starred in; the film’s soundtrack won him a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for a Motion Picture. He has directed episodes of *Ted Lasso* (2020) and *Rooster* (2026), as well as *Shrinking*. Braff has also directed the films *Going in Style* (2017) and *A Good Person* (2023).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenrant.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these

- *Girls Like Girls* (2026), Fi1m 67, as Curtis — [page](https://film.one/film/girls-like-girls.md)
- *Chicken Little* (2005), Fi1m 42, as Chicken Little (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/chicken-little.md)

### Directed (4)

- *Rooster* (2026), Fi1m 57, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/rooster.md)
- *Shrinking* (2023), Fi1m 61, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/shrinking.md)
- *Ted Lasso* (2020), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/ted-lasso.md)
- *Garden State* (2004), Fi1m 71, as Andrew Largeman — [page](https://film.one/film/garden-state.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *The Disaster Artist* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Zach Braff (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-disaster-artist.md)

## Complete filmography (57)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Clean Hands* (2026), as Kevin Simmers · Executive Producer
- *Girls Like Girls* (2026), as Curtis — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/girls-like-girls.md)
- *Rooster* (2026), series, Director — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/tv/rooster.md)
- *Scrubs* (2026), series, as John 'J.D.' Dorian · Executive Producer, Director
- *Long Story Short* (2025), series, as (voice)
- *Garden State - The 20th Anniversary Concert* (2025), Writer, Executive Producer
- *Bad Monkey* (2024), series, as Israel 'Izzy' O'Peele
- *French Girl* (2024), as Gordon Kinski
- *Bookie* (2023), series, as Locko Rocko (uncredited)
- *The Mattachine Family* (2023), Executive Producer
- *A Good Person* (2023), Producer, Director, Writer
- *A Little White Lie* (2023), as Real Shriver
- *Shrinking* (2023), series, Director — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/tv/shrinking.md)
- *Obi-Wan Kenobi* (2022), series, as Freck (voice)
- *Moonshot* (2022), as Leon Kovi
- *Cheaper by the Dozen* (2022), as Paul Baker
- *Solos* (2021), series, Director
- *The Comeback Trail* (2020), as Walter Creason
- *Percy* (2020), as Jackson Weaver
- *Ted Lasso* (2020), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/ted-lasso.md)
- *In the Time It Takes to Get There* (2019), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Alex, Inc.* (2018), series, as Alex Schuman · Executive Producer, Director
- *Just Say Goodbye* (2017), Thanks
- *Going in Style* (2017), Director
- *The Disaster Artist* (2017), as Zach Braff (uncredited) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-disaster-artist.md)
- *In Dubious Battle* (2016), as Connor
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Zach Braff (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *Wish I Was Here* (2014), as Aidan Bloom · Director, Writer, Producer
- *Video Games: The Movie* (2014), Executive Producer
- *The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz* (2014), Executive Producer
- *Undateable* (2014), series, as Zach
- *My Journey in Oz* (2013), Thanks
- *Tim Heidecker's Zach Braff's Wish I Was Here* (2013), Story
- *Oz the Great and Powerful* (2013), as Frank / Finley
- *The Color of Time* (2012), as Albert
- *The Exes* (2011), series, as Chuck Feeney
- *The High Cost of Living* (2011), as Henry
- *Cougar Town* (2009), series, as Pizza Guy (uncredited)
- *Scrubs: Interns* (2009), series, as John "J.D." Dorian
- *Crazy Hair Day* (2009), Actor
- *Wallace's Lists* (2007), Actor
- *The Ex* (2006), as Tom Reilly
- *The Last Kiss* (2006), as Michael
- *Chicken Little* (2005), as Chicken Little (voice) — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/chicken-little.md)
- *Garden State* (2004), as Andrew Largeman · Director, Writer — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/garden-state.md)
- *Arrested Development* (2003), series, as Phillip Litt — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/arrested-development.md)
- *It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie* (2002), as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian
- *Clone High* (2002), series, as Paul Revere (voice), X-Stream Mike (voice)
- *Scrubs* (2001), series, as John 'J.D.' Dorian · Executive Producer, Director
- *Endsville* (2000), as Dean
- *The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy* (2000), as Benji
- *Blue Moon* (2000), as Young Fred
- *Getting to Know You* (1999), as Wesley
- *TRL* (1998), series, Actor
- *Lionel on a Sun Day* (1997), Director, Writer
- *Manhattan Murder Mystery* (1993), as Nick Lipton
- *The Baby-Sitters Club* (1990), series, as David Cummings

## Gallery

- ![Zach Braff](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-36ed87b9a98a.jpg) Zach Braff — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Zach_Braff_-_PaleyLive_2024_-_Shrinking.jpg/1280px-Zach_Braff_-_PaleyLive_2024_-_Shrinking.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zach Braff at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-b427305b558e.jpg) Zach Braff at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. — gdcgraphics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdcgraphics/, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/ZachBraffSept10TIFF.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Braffzach (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-d9dc9fc31b5d.jpg) Zach Braffzach (2006) — Michell Zappa, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Zach_Braff.jpg/1280px-Zach_Braff.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Toronto International Film Festival 2010. (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-821c6284f1c6.jpg) Toronto International Film Festival 2010. (2011) — Gordon  Correll, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Zach_Braff_%285621204291%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zach Braff](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-fede52147d7a.jpg) Zach Braff — Image via TMDB
- ![Zach Braff](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-24a0cdc10653.jpg) Zach Braff — Image via TMDB
- ![Zach Braff](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-0ddbffb8eabf.jpg) Zach Braff — Image via TMDB
- ![Zach Braff presenting his movie Garden State at the Guadalajara Film Festival (2005)](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-3b4a3d6b62ef.jpg) Zach Braff presenting his movie Garden State at the Guadalajara Film Festival (2005) — Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Zach_Braff_%28Guadalajara%29.jpg/1280px-Zach_Braff_%28Guadalajara%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zach Braff's signature (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/22274/gallery-7a7783bc9bc1.png) Zach Braff's signature (2011) — Zach Braff, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Zach_Braff_%28signature%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media 2005: Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (won), for *Garden State – Music From the Motion Picture*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/zach-braff