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Background:
Actor/filmmaker Zach Braff reached the pinnacle of his career with the romantic
comedy Garden State (2004), for which he served as the director, screenwriter,
compilation soundtrack producer, and actor (played Andrew Largeman). Thanks to
his brilliance, Braff won numerous awards, such as an Independent Spirit Award,
a Chicago Film Critics Association Award, a National Board of Review Award, a
Hollywood Film Festival’s Hollywood Discovery Award, as well as a Grammy Award
for his soundtrack work.
For TV viewers, Braff may be famous as Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian, an intern in the
now-airing sitcom “Scrubs” (show began in 2001), in which he was nominated for
an Emmy and a Golden Globe. The voice of the titular character in Disney’s
Chicken Little (2005) currently has several projects in the works, including
Fast Track (2006, will star as Tom Reilly), 8 Track (2007, will co-write), and
Open Hearts (2007, will serve as director, writer, co-producer and actor).
Apart from his ever-rising movie career, Braff apparently also directed several
music videos, like Joshua Radin’s “Closer,” Cary Brothers’ “Ride,” Gavin
DeGraw’s “Chariot” and Lazlo Bane’s “Superman.” Outside the limelight, Braff,
who also appeared in an ESPN promotional ad, is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
Fraternity at Northwestern.
As for his romantic life, Braff once had a relationship with Garden State
actress Bonnie Somerville (born on February 24, 1974, together while filming
Garden State) and actress/musician Mandy Moore (born on April 10, 1984, from
2004 to 2006). Now, the actor/director reportedly is in a relationship with
singer Jessica Simpson, although their representative denies the rumor.
Acting Camp
Childhood and Family:
Born on April 6, 1975, in South Orange, New Jersey, Zachary Ivan Braff is the
youngest of four children to Hal Braff (attorney) and Anne Braff Brodzinsky
(clinical psychologist). His siblings are Adam J. Braff (writer), Joshua Braff
(novelist) and Shoshanna Braff (fashion designer).
Little Zachary began a curiosity toward acting after watching his father work in
a community theater. At age 11, he joined the children’s acting camp StageDoor
Manor and met a talent manager who helped him begin a professional career. He
then kicked off his acting career while attending Columbia High School in
Maplewood. Continuing his studies, Zach graduated with a B.A. in Film from the
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Scrubs
Career:
18-year old Zach Braff appeared in Hollywood with an episodic appearance as
David Cummings in the family series “The Baby-Sitters Club” (1993). The same
year, he was also cast as Nick Lipton, the son of Woody Allen and Diane Keaton’s
characters, in the crime comedy movie Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). Acquiring
a more prominent role, Braff starred as a chauvinist boy going undercover as a
maid in the TV film My Summer As a Girl (1994, as Tony).
As a student of a film school, Braff made his first directing attempt with the
20-minute short film Lionel on a Sunday (1997). He then tried the stage and
carried out the role of Fleance in the Public Theater’s production of “Macbeth”
(1998), starring Angela Bassett and Alec Baldwin, before costarring as Wesley,
opposite Heather Matarazzo, in the indie comedy drama Getting to Know You
(1999). A year later, he was cast as party boy Benji in the gay-themed ensemble
comedy The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000).
Braff quickly gained attention with his scene-stealing portrayal of fresh-faced
intern Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian in the now-running medical sitcom “Scrubs” (show
began in 2001), in which his fine performance brought home an Emmy and a Golden
Globe nomination. Later, the actor also served as the director for some episodes
of the hospital-set series, as well as performed two songs (“Faith” and “Down
Under”) for the soundtrack. Outside his work in the sitcom, the actor also
voiced two guest characters in the animated comedy series “Clone High” (2002,
voiced X-Stream Mike and Paul Revere).
Among all of his screen work, it was the romantic comedy Garden State (2004)
that became his groundbreaking effort. Serving as the director, screenwriter and
the actor (starred as Andrew Largeman), Braff excelled and received many awards,
like a Chicago Film Critics Association and a National Board of Review for Best
New Director, a Central Ohio Film Critics for Breakthrough Film Artist, an
Independent Spirit for Best First Feature, a Hollywood Film Festival’s Hollywood
Discovery award for Breakthrough Directing, and a Florida Film Critics Circle’s
Pauline Kael Breakout award. Additionally, his task as a compilation producer
for the movie soundtrack brought him a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack
Album. Adding to the list of critical applause, he was nominated for the 2004
Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize, a Writers Guild of America’s Best
Screenplay, and an Independent Spirit’s Best First Screenplay.
Braff next entertained younger audiences by voicing the titular character of a
secluded chicken facing an alien family in Disney’s animated feature Chicken
Little (2005). He also re-voiced the chicken character for video game Kingdom
Hearts II (2005), which also featured the voice of Haley Joel Osment, Jesse
McCartney, Mena Suvari, Rachael Leigh Cook and many more. Recently, he played
Micheal in the romantic drama The Last Kiss (2006).
The actor is assigned to star as Tom Reilly, the husband of Amanda Peet’s
character, in the comedy drama Fast Track (2006) and will take on the duty of
executive producer and screenwriter for Andrew Henry’s Meadow (2006). Braff, who
reportedly will play Irwin Fletcher in Fletch Won (2007, a prequel to the 1985
hit movie Fletch), will co-write the action comedy drama 8 Track (2007), with
Shawn Corridan.
Braff will also resume his directing efforts with Open Hearts (2007), the remake
of a Danish film centering on two couples whose lives are intertwined after a
car crash. Aside from directing, the actor will also write, co-produce, and take
the lead role.
Awards:
- Central Ohio Film Critics: Breakthrough Film Artist, Garden State, 2005
- Chicago Film Critics Association: Best New Director, Garden State, 2004
- Florida Film Critics Circle: Pauline Kael Breakout Award, Garden State,
2004
- Grammy: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture,
Television or Other Visual Media, Garden State, 2005
- Hollywood Film Festival: Hollywood Discovery Award - Breakthrough
Directing, 2004
- Independent Spirit: Best First Feature, Garden State, 2004
- National Board of Review: Best Debut Director, Garden State, 2004
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