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<!-- BRAFF IS NOT DEAD. THE NEWSPAGE YOU SAW IS A HOAX. DO NOT ADD A MENTION OF HIS "DEATH" TO THIS PAGE.-->
{{Infobox Actor
{{Infobox Actor
| image = Braff, Zach (LF).JPG
| image = Braff, Zach (LF).JPG
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| birthdate = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1975|4|6}}
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1975|4|6}}
| birthplace = {{city-state|South Orange|New Jersey}}, U.S.
| birthplace = {{city-state|South Orange|New Jersey}}, U.S.
|deathdate = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2008|12|8|1975|4|6}}
|deathplace = [[Beverly Hills, California]], [[United States]], US
| occupation = Actor, director, screenwriter, producer
| occupation = Actor, director, screenwriter, producer
| yearsactive = 1993–present
| yearsactive = 1993–2008
| website = http://www.zachbraff.com/
| website = http://www.zachbraff.com/
}}
}}


'''Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff''' (born April 6, 1975) is an [[United States|America]]n [[actor]], [[film director|director]], [[screenwriter]], and [[film producer|producer]].
'''Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff''' (born April 6, 1975 &ndash; December 8, 2008) is an [[United States|America]]n [[actor]], [[film director|director]], [[screenwriter]], and [[film producer|producer]].
During the 2000s, he became known for his role as [[J.D. (Scrubs)|John 'J.D.' Dorian]], on the popular TV Series ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'', which earned him his first [[Emmy]] nomination.
During the 2000s, he became known for his role as [[J.D. (Scrubs)|John 'J.D.' Dorian]], on the popular TV Series ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'', which earned him his first [[Emmy]] nomination.


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Braff's next directorial project is the upcoming, 2011 film ''Open Hearts'', a remake of a 2002 Danish film of the same name. The project has been put in [[limbo]] due to Braff's work on ''Scrubs''. The film will focus on a woman, shocked by her fiance's paralysis in a car crash. She ends up having an affair with her husband's doctor, whose wife caused the original accident. The original film starred [[Mads Mikkelsen]], Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, and Paprika Steen. The cast for Braff's remake have not been revealed yet. It was first revealed that Zach Braff was planning to remake ''Open Hearts'' in 2006,<ref name="movies.about.com">http://movies.about.com/od/moviesinproduction/a/openheart031406.htm</ref> at the same time Braff's film ''[[The Last Kiss]]'' was being released. The film will be produced by [[Paramount Pictures]].
Braff's next directorial project is the upcoming, 2011 film ''Open Hearts'', a remake of a 2002 Danish film of the same name. The project has been put in [[limbo]] due to Braff's work on ''Scrubs''. The film will focus on a woman, shocked by her fiance's paralysis in a car crash. She ends up having an affair with her husband's doctor, whose wife caused the original accident. The original film starred [[Mads Mikkelsen]], Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, and Paprika Steen. The cast for Braff's remake have not been revealed yet. It was first revealed that Zach Braff was planning to remake ''Open Hearts'' in 2006,<ref name="movies.about.com">http://movies.about.com/od/moviesinproduction/a/openheart031406.htm</ref> at the same time Braff's film ''[[The Last Kiss]]'' was being released. The film will be produced by [[Paramount Pictures]].


On his blog, Zach Braff announced that directing the film had been delayed due to his show ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' being renewed.<ref>http://www.zachbraff.com/</ref> The production of the film has been put in [[limbo]] several times due to Braff returning to film the seventh and eighth seasons of ''Scrubs'', and in 2006 it was revealed that Braff had put the project on hold for a year after difficulties surrounding casting. The picture was to be filmed in [[New Jersey]], Braff's hometown and location of ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'', in the summer of 2006<ref name="movies.about.com"/> This date has been changed but the location is believed to remain the same.
On his blog, Zach Braff announced that directing the film had been delayed due to his show ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' being renewed.<ref>http://www.zachbraff.com/</ref> The production of the film has been put in [[limbo]] several times due to Braff returning to film the seventh and eighth seasons of ''Scrubs'', and in 2006 it was revealed that Braff had put the project on hold for a year after difficulties surrounding casting. The picture was to be filmed in [[New Jersey]], Braff's home state and location of ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'', in the summer of 2006.<ref name="movies.about.com"/> This date has been changed but the location is believed to remain the same.


===''Swingles''===
===''Swingles''===
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He is also in real life best friends with his co-star [[Donald Faison]].
He is also in real life best friends with his co-star [[Donald Faison]].


==False Report of Death==
==Death==
On October 13, 2009, a report emerged that Braff had been found dead in his Beverly Hills home following taking a bottle of pills. The death was later rules a suicide by the California Coroner.
On October 13, 2009, a report emerged that Braff had been found dead in his Beverly Hills home following taking a bottle of pills. This is however a fake report. He has since posted on his official [[Facebook]] profile about the joke<ref>{{cite news | last=Braff |first=Zach |coauthors= |title=Braff confirms he is still alive |pages= |publisher=Zach Braff on Facebook |date=2009-10-12 |url=http://www.facebook.com/ZachBraff?v=feed&story_fbid=191712223384 |accessdate=2009-10-12}}</ref>, and not long after, replied mentioning the source of the joke in a video<ref>{{cite news |last=Braff |first=Zach |coauthors= |title=Braff names joker in Facebook video |pages= |publisher=Zach Braff on Facebook |date=2009-10-12 |url=http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1242789193066 |accessdate=2009-10-12}}</ref>

News of Braff's death was reported rampantly on Twitter, and questions were raised whether the new season of Scrubs would continue without Braff to ease the transition.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==

Revision as of 06:09, 20 October 2009

Zach Braff
Braff during the 2007 Writers Guild of America Strike
Born
Zachary Israel Braff
Occupation(s)Actor, director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1993–2008
Websitehttp://www.zachbraff.com/

Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff (born April 6, 1975 – December 8, 2008) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and producer. During the 2000s, he became known for his role as John 'J.D.' Dorian, on the popular TV Series Scrubs, which earned him his first Emmy nomination.

Braff also wrote, starred in, and directed 2004's Garden State, a coming of age film which brought him his first financial success and critical acclaim in film work. The soundtrack record, which he selected and produced, earned him a Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album in 2005.

Early life

Braff was born in South Orange, New Jersey, to a Jewish family. His parents, Hal Braff, a trial attorney and sociology professor, and Anne Brodzinsky, a clinical psychologist, divorced and re-married others during Braff's childhood.[1][2][3] One of his siblings, Joshua, is an author. Braff has wanted to be a filmmaker since his early childhood and has described it as his "life dream."[4] Braff was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at age 10.[5]

As a teen, Braff attended Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in upstate New York. He graduated from Columbia High School, in Maplewood, where he worked in the school's television station. Braff graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in film where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. While attending Northwestern, Braff met singer-songwriter Cary Brothers and Joshua Radin whose music is featured on Braff's comedy series, Scrubs.

Career

Braff began his career behind the scenes as a janitor assistant during William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Macbeth (as Malcolm) at New York City's Public Theater,[4] and also appeared in Woody Allen's 1993 film Manhattan Murder Mystery. Braff was briefly on the Disney program The Baby-sitters Club in an episode titled "Dawn Saves the Trees." He, along with many Scrubs cast members, also has a small role playing himself in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.

Braff is also the voice of the puppy narrator in advertisements for Cottonelle.

Scrubs

Braff has played the role of protagonist John "J.D." Dorian on the television show Scrubs since the show's debut in 2001. The role was Braff's first major part in a television show. Braff has been nominated for three Golden Globes and an Emmy for his role as the offbeat doctor.

In March 2007, Braff signed a one-year deal with NBC for the seventh season of Scrubs. He reportedly earned $350,000 an episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors on television,[6] alongside House's Hugh Laurie and Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen. However, Braff claims that these reports "have not been very accurate."[7] In late October 2008, Bill Lawrence confirmed Braff will star in the eighth, and what was expected to be the final season of Scrubs, before adding that Scrubs could continue with a new cast. However, in 2009 and after the eighth season finale of Scrubs aired, it was announced that Braff, along with other regular cast members, would star in six episodes of the show's ninth season to help to transition the show to its new format. Braff has directed several episodes of Scrubs, including its one-hundredth.

Garden State

In addition to directing several episodes of Scrubs, Braff wrote, directed, and starred in 2004's Garden State, which was filmed in his home state of New Jersey, in various towns such as South Orange, Maplewood and Tenafly. Producers were initially reluctant to finance the film, which Braff wrote in six months.[6] After its success, he was sent a large number of scripts that he rejected because they were the kinds of films that he "would never go see or have any interest in being in."[8] In February 2005, he won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for a Motion Picture for the Garden State soundtrack,[8] on which he also served as the compilation producer.

Voice Acting

Braff has done voice acting, providing a voice for the title character in the Disney animated film Chicken Little (2005), as well as being credited for voice acting in the video game Kingdom Hearts II. Braff has also done voice overs for commercials, including the PUR water ad campaign, Wendy's TV commercials in 2007 and '08,[9] and Cottonelle commercials, in which he portrays the Cottonelle puppy. One Cottonelle ad features a very brief live-action cameo of Braff himself.

Other Work

In 2005, Braff was featured on Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd when he was tricked into chasing a supposed vandal who appeared to be spray-painting his brand new Porsche. He then proceeded to hurl expletives at the young boy until Ashton Kutcher showed up.[10] The episode aired March 20, 2005.[11] Braff has also made a couple of guest appearances on the show Arrested Development as Phillip Litt, a parody of Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis, who produces a film series called Girls with Low Self Esteem.

Braff has directed several music videos: Gavin DeGraw's "Chariot,"[12] Joshua Radin's "Closer" and "I'd Rather Be With You," and Lazlo Bane's "Superman," the theme song from Scrubs. Winning a Grammy Award for assembling the soundtrack album of Garden State and directing three music videos, Braff has said that he "loves music and knows a lot about it."[13] His music production has resulted in newfound success for some of the artists featured on his film soundtracks, such as The Shins, who were prominently featured on the Garden State soundtrack and the Scrubs soundtrack, resulting in the expression the "Zach Braff effect."[14][15]

On May 19, 2007, Braff hosted the 32nd season finale of Saturday Night Live, where in one sketch, he plays a high schooler who tries to explain to the two snobby heads of the prom committee (Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph) how Garden State is an important film to his peers.

Braff was in talks to star in the film Fletch Won and had signed on to play the role eventually played by Dane Cook in Mr. Brooks,[16] but dropped out of both roles to work on Open Hearts, which he adapted from a Danish film and will direct. He has also co-written a film version of Andrew Henry's Meadow, a children's book, with his brother, and was scheduled to direct one of the segments for the film New York, I Love You. However, he was not among those who directed the film, scheduled to be released in October.[17]

In July 2009 he signed on as an executive producer for the documentary Heart of Stone to "help spread the word about it."[18]

The Last Kiss

Braff starred in the romantic drama The Last Kiss, which opened on September 15, 2006. Braff, who tweaked several parts of Paul Haggis' script for the film, wanted the script to be as "real as possible" and "really courageous" regarding its subject matter.[19] The film's director, Tony Goldwyn, compared Braff to a younger version of Tim Allen, describing Braff as "incredibly accessible to an audience... a real guy, an everyman."[1]

As with Garden State, Braff was involved with the film's soundtrack; he served as executive producer and selected lesser known artists such as Frou Frou, Joshua Radin, Schuyler Fisk, and Rachael Yamagata, as well as Remy Zero, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Turin Brakes, The Shins and Aimee Mann,[8] to appear on the track.[19]

The Last Kiss grossed approximately $11 million at the North American box office,[20] and was considered a commercial disappointment;[6] however, worldwide box office receipts and DVD rentals added $35 million to the take, bringing in nearly twice the production cost of $20 million for the film.

The Ex

In 2007, Braff starred in the film The Ex, which he has described as a "silly comedy,"[21] and which was released on May 11, 2007 and also starred Amanda Peet, Charles Grodin and Jason Bateman. Braff said on his blog that "the movie didn't do as well as he expected."[citation needed]

Open Hearts

Braff's next directorial project is the upcoming, 2011 film Open Hearts, a remake of a 2002 Danish film of the same name. The project has been put in limbo due to Braff's work on Scrubs. The film will focus on a woman, shocked by her fiance's paralysis in a car crash. She ends up having an affair with her husband's doctor, whose wife caused the original accident. The original film starred Mads Mikkelsen, Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, and Paprika Steen. The cast for Braff's remake have not been revealed yet. It was first revealed that Zach Braff was planning to remake Open Hearts in 2006,[22] at the same time Braff's film The Last Kiss was being released. The film will be produced by Paramount Pictures.

On his blog, Zach Braff announced that directing the film had been delayed due to his show Scrubs being renewed.[23] The production of the film has been put in limbo several times due to Braff returning to film the seventh and eighth seasons of Scrubs, and in 2006 it was revealed that Braff had put the project on hold for a year after difficulties surrounding casting. The picture was to be filmed in New Jersey, Braff's home state and location of Garden State, in the summer of 2006.[22] This date has been changed but the location is believed to remain the same.

Swingles

Zach Braff announced via his Facebook page that he is working on the script of the film "Swingles",[citation needed] which he will direct and star in alongside Cameron Diaz.[24]

Personal life

In early 2006, unnamed sources told In Touch Weekly magazine that Mandy Moore and Braff were engaged.[25] Moore's representative denied the engagement.[26] In the summer of 2007, Braff started to date Roswell star Shiri Appleby.[27][28]

In November 2008, Braff earned his pilot's License in a Cirrus SR20.[29] Braff's step-sister is Jessica Kirson, a New York stand-up comedienne.[30]

He is also in real life best friends with his co-star Donald Faison.

Death

On October 13, 2009, a report emerged that Braff had been found dead in his Beverly Hills home following taking a bottle of pills. The death was later rules a suicide by the California Coroner.

News of Braff's death was reported rampantly on Twitter, and questions were raised whether the new season of Scrubs would continue without Braff to ease the transition.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Babysitters Club David Cummings One episode only
1993 Manhattan Murder Mystery Nick Lipton
2000 Broken Hearts Club Benji
Blue Moon Fred
2001-2010 Scrubs Dr. John "J.D." Dorian (Narrator) Main character for 168 Episodes.
Scheduled to appear in 6 episodes in season 9.
2002 It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Himself
2004 Garden State Andrew Largeman Writer/Director/Soundtrack Producer
2005 Chicken Little Chicken Little Voice only
2006 The Last Kiss Michael
2007 The Ex Tom Reilly

References

  1. ^ a b Dawson, Angela (2006-09-06). "Braff's 'Kiss'". AZ Central. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Bloom, Steven M. (2004-07-15). "Back in the 'The Ex'". NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Zach Braff Biography (1975-2009)
  4. ^ a b "Life After `Garden State'". CTNow.com. 2006-09-09. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ctnow.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ The next Woody Allen? - Film - www.smh.com.au
  6. ^ a b c "60 SECONDS: Zach Braff". Metro.co.uk. 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Braff, Zach (2007-03-30). "Blog. Cog. Snog. Frog. Oh my Gog!". Zach Braff.com. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ a b c Erstein, Hap (2006-09-10). "Goodbye, Scrubs?". The Oxford Press. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Keller, Joel Zach Braff says he's not a jerk TV Squad (June 26, 2007). Retrieved on 2-13-09.
  10. ^ "Braff Busted Beating Up Teen on 'Punk'd'". Hollywood.com. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  11. ^ ""Punk'd" Episode #4.3 (2005)". IMDB.com. 2005-03-20. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Braff, Zach (2005-03-21). "Warning: Not Funny!". Zach Braff's Garden State Blog. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ As stated on Last Call with Carson Daly.
  14. ^ Leopold, Todd (2008-09-26). "Singer has some fame, but no 'Zach Braff effect'". CNN.com. CNN. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  15. ^ Lester, Paul (2007-03-16). "Frodo gets funky". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  16. ^ Kepnes, Caroline (2007-05-23). "Dane Cook: Employee of the Month. I'm Serious". E! Online. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ Goldberg, Matt (2009-05-21). "Zach Braff hangs with SWINGLES". Collider.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=99806535469&share_id=106116360137&comments=1#s106116360137
  19. ^ a b Adler, Shawn (2007-09-07). "Can This Love "Last"?". MTV Movies. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ "THE LAST KISS". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2007-05-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Murray, Rebecca (2007-09-08). "Zach Braff Discusses Fletch Won". About.com. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  22. ^ a b http://movies.about.com/od/moviesinproduction/a/openheart031406.htm
  23. ^ http://www.zachbraff.com/
  24. ^ Sciretta, Peter (2009-05-21). "Braff to direct and star alongside Cameron Diaz". Retrieved 2009-10-13. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "ZACH + MANDY TO WED?". Contact Music. 2006-02-01. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ "Correction: Braff and Moore Not Engaged". IMDB.com. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-05-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  27. ^ "Braff Back With Ex Appleby". recent WENN news. wenn.com. 2008-08-07.
  28. ^ Beth Hilton (2008-08-10). "Braff reunites with ex-girlfriend". digitalspy.co.uk.
  29. ^ http://bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/leisure/Zach-Braff-s-love-of-flying.php
  30. ^ http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/2004/71504/ltgarden.html

External links

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