Today Zach Braff is best known for his lead character, Dr. John Dorian (J.D.) on the show Scrubs. What most fans don’t know about him is that this multi-talented actor has also written, directed, and produced a variety of films and television shows since the early 1990’s. This mature 30 year old has made it in Hollywood not by sleeping around with producers and directors, but rather with good old fashioned hard work.

Zach Braff, on top of his devotion to the entertainment industry, has also taken his education very seriously. He grew up going to the Columbia High School in New Jersey which other stars such as R & B singer Lauryn Hill and Ahmed Best, who was the voice for Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). After graduating high school he attended Northwestern University majoring in film.

The core characteristics of Zach Braff are his determination and desire to prove people wrong. This became evident with the film Garden State (2004) for which Braff wrote, directed, starred in, and produced the soundtrack for the movie. Even though this was an independent film, Braff was able to attract talented actors such as Peter Sarsgaard and Natalie Portman to co-star with him.

While writing Garden State, Braff put a lot of himself into the main character. Braff once said, “My mother's a psychologist, my stepfather's a psychologist, my stepmother is a therapist and my dad's a lawyer. So it was all prominent in my life. I don't know anyone who doesn't know someone on some form of prescription medicine." That quote became a major theme in the film for the main character and his relationship with his father.

When people said he would never find a producer without making major changes to the script, he proved them wrong and found someone to fund the entire production. When people told him he would not be able to get rights to the music he wanted for the film, once again he proved them wrong and was able to get each and every song on his list at a discounted rate. The film went on to win several awards including the Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Other films and TV shows to his acting credit include the Last Kiss (2006), Arrested Development (2005), Chicken Little (2005), Getting to Know You (1999), and My Summer as a Girl (1995). Braff has also written and directed several episodes of Scrubs, and will be the writer, director, producer and actor of the film Open Hearts set to come out in 2007. Open Hearts will also star Rachel Bilson (best known for her role on the hit TV show, The OC.)

Even with all of the success Braff has experienced at a relatively young age, he is still a very private person. You will not find him in the tabloids or bar hopping with an entourage of 20. His relationship with pop singer/actress Mandy Moore supposedly began in 2004 and while they will make public appearances together on occasion, for the most part they keep their relationship as private as they can.

There are currently two rumors making their rounds regarding the current status of their relationship. The first is that they have gotten engaged, the second that they broke up during the summer of 2006.

Neither Mandy nor Zach has confirmed either rumor.

Zach’s close knit group of friends and private personality will ensure he will never be smeared in the tabloids. His originality allows him to create interesting films and his talent has given him a cult fan base. Zach Braff’s sincerity, humor, and intelligence will ensure him a long career to come.