WHERE THEY NOW: The cast of ‘Scrubs’ 21 years later

The main cast of “Scrubs. “CBS “Scrubs” turned 21 on October 2. It aired for nine seasons from 2001 to 2010.

“Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence based the character JD on his actual friend Dr. Jon Doris. Zach Braff earned an Emmy nomination in 2005 for his role as JD.

Zach Braff starred as the main character of “Scrubs,” and its narrator, Dr. John “JD” Dorian. Zach Braff as JD.

NBCJD frequently daydreamed about surreal scenarios while on the job at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital, most of which viewers got to see acted out on the show. He was also a skilled doctor and very compassionate with his patients. But like any student, JD made lots of mistakes in the beginning of the show.

When season one began, JD was an intern at the hospital, and by the end of his time on “Scrubs,” he was the residency director at St. Vincent’s Hospital, and also married to Elliot with a son (though he did return to Sacred Heart in season nine). During the ninth and final season of “Scrubs,” the focus was switched to a new group of characters in an attempt to keep the show going, and Braff continued to appear as a series regular.

“Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence based this role on his real-life friend Dr. Jon Doris. In 2022, Braff starred in the Disney+ remake of “Cheaper by the Dozen” and appeared in the sci-fi romantic comedy film “Moonshot.

“Zach Braff. Gotham/Getty ImagesAside from his Emmy-nominated role in “Scrubs,” Braff, 47, has appeared in other series like “Alex, Inc. ,” “Undateable,” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“He also branched into directing, with the critically acclaimed “Garden State” in 2004, as well as “Wish I Was Here” in 2014.  More recently, Braff co-starred alongside Hollywood heavy-hitters Robert De Niro and Morgan Freeman in the award-winning movie “The Comeback Trail” in 2020. He also co-starred with Gabrielle Union in “Cheaper by the Dozen” in 2022, and played an Elon Musk-esque figure in the HBO Max rom-com “Moonshot.

“Braff broke up with his actress girlfriend Florence Pugh earlier in 2022 after three years of dating. The two collaborated on a film, “A Good Person,” which is set to release in 2023. Braff also hosts a successful “Scrubs” rewatch podcast with his co-star Donald Faison, “Fake Doctors, Real Friends.

“Sarah Chalke portrayed Dr. Elliot Reid. She was J.

D. ‘s high-achieving co-worker and on-again/off-again love interest. Sarah Chalke as Elliot Reid.

NBCElliot came from a privileged (yet dysfunctional) family who were the main reason for her neuroses. Her alcoholic mother’s abusive behavior towards her father is what motivated her to get into the medical field.  She met JD when they were interns at the hospital.

The two quickly became a couple, however they broke up just as fast, setting them on a long path of make-ups and break-ups. By the end of season nine, Elliot and JD were married and expecting a child together. Elliot’s other significant relationship was with Carla, a nurse at the hospital, who became one of her closest friends.

Elliot returned for season nine of “Scrubs” in a reduced role. Chalke is currently starring in the Netflix series “Firefly Lane. ‘Sarah Chalke.

Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesSome of the shows that Chalke, 46, acted in after “Scrubs” include “Cougar Town,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and the “Roseanne” reboot.   She also was in an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy. ” She now plays Kate on “Firefly Lane.

“Chalke also has a successful voice-acting career, lending her voice to “American Dad!,” “Dogs in Space,” “Paradise PD,” and most famously as Beth Smith in the Emmy-winning animated series “Rick and Morty. “In September 2022, the actress announced that she and her fiancé Jamie Afifi had called it quits. They originally got engaged in 2006 and share two children together.

 Donald Faison portrayed Dr. Christopher Turk, known primarily by his last name. He was JD’s best friend.

Donald Faison as Turk. NBCTurk was always JD’s right-hand man. He was always there for advice when JD needed it, and could always snap him back into reality.

Turk and JD remain one of TV’s great bromances, both on- and off-screen. Their friendship began when they were in medical school together, and the two even applied to Sacred Heart together so they could continue working side by side. Turk’s other significant relationship in “Scrubs” was with Carla Espinosa, a no-nonsense nurse at the hospital who eventually became Turk’s wife.

They welcomed a daughter in season six. Turk was one of three original cast members who remained a series regular during season nine of “Scrubs. “Faison made his debut as DC superhero Booster Gold in the final season of “Legends of Tomorrow” in 2022.

Donald Faison. Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesThroughout the years, Faison, 48, has had a consistent career, acting in a slew of television series including “The Exes,” “The L Word: Generation Q,” and “House of Lies. “His voice has been used in multiple episodes of the Emmy-winning animated series “Robot Chicken,” as well as in other animated series such as “Vampirina” and “Star Wars Resistance” and “Star Wars The Clone Wars.

“Faison has also been on the big-screen. One of his most iconic movie roles was as Dionne’s (Stacey Dash) cool boyfriend Murray in the cult-classic 1995 film “Clueless. ” He reprised his role as Murray in the post-movie TV series.

He’s also appeared in films such as “Remember the Titans,” “Pitch Perfect,” and “Kick-Ass 2. “Most recently, Faison appeared as Booster Gold in the final season of “Legends of Tomorrow” to positive reviews. He was also supposed to play Professor Utonium in the live-action “Powerpuff Girls” series which was scrapped after leaks.

Since 2012, Faison has been married to CaCee Cobb, the former personal assistant to Jessica Simpson. They have two kids together. Judy Reyes portrayed Carla Espinosa, the head nurse at Sacred Heart.

Judy Reyes as Carla Espinosa. NBCCarla was brutally honest and always had to be right (which she almost always was, anyway). She was very sassy, opinionated, and always made sure her point-of-view was heard.

 Sometime after Carla met Turk on his second day at the hospital, they started dating and eventually became a couple. They tied the knot in season three — Elliot was her maid of honor — and had their first daughter Isabella in season six.  During the last season it was mentioned they had a baby off-screen, as Carla did not return for season nine, the only main cast member who never made an appearance.

Reyes has a role in one of 2022’s most anticipated horror films, “Smile. “Judy Reyes. Gregg DeGuire/Getty ImagesReyes, 54, has appeared in multiple successful TV series.

A few years after “Scrubs,” Reyes starred in the series “Devious Maids” from 2013 to 2016, and made appearances in a few episodes of the Emmy-nominated series “Jane the Virgin. “She also had a leading role in the NAACP Award-winning series “Claws” as Annalise “Quiet Ann” Zayas from 2017 to 2022. Also in 2022, she appeared in the Emmy-nominated series “Better Things.

“She also will be starring in the 2023 film “Turtles All the Way Down,” based on the John Green novel of the same name. Since 2008,she’s been dating director George Valencia. They have a daughter together.

Ken Jenkins portrayed the hospital’s Chief of Medicine Dr. Robert “Bob” Kelso. He had a tough exterior, but meant well.

Ken Jenkins as Dr. Kelso. NBCOne of the biggest plot twists in “Scrubs” history was when the true demeanor of Dr.

Kelso was revealed. Throughout the first episode, JD and his fellow students see Dr. Kelso as a kindly older man who was open to teaching them, but by the end of the episode, it became clear that Dr.

Kelso was most interested in the bottom line. The hospital’s budget was his prime concern, and all of his decision-making revolved around not going over budget. But, as time went on, Dr.

Kelso let his more compassionate side show, and after his retirement in season seven, he became a sweeter character and acted as a mentor to Dr. Cox, his replacement. He appeared in a reduced role in seasons eight and nine.

Jenkins acts sporadically. His most recent role was in the 2019 television movie, “Girls Weekend. “Ken Jenkins.

Joe Scarnici/Getty Images”Cougar Town” was the next series that Jenkins, 82, landed after “Scrubs” — “Cougar Town” was also “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence’s follow-up to his medical sitcom. After “Cougar Town” ended in 2015, he had a voice role in the cartoon “Gravity Falls” and appeared in two episodes of “A Series of Unfortunate Events. “In 2016, he portrayed Rep.

Howard “Judge” Smith in the award-winning biographical TV film “All the Way. ” The movie was based on the real events that occurred during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration in the 1960s.

Jenkins has been married to actress Katharine Houghton since 1970. John C. McGinley portrayed the deliciously dry Dr.

Percival “Percy” Cox. He was JD’s mentor (and frequent foil). John C.

McGinley as Dr. Cox. NBCDr.

Cox took no prisoners when it came to mentoring and teaching. He had a habit of belittling students and interns through long rants in an attempt to mentally prepare them for work in the field.  In public, Dr.

Cox berated JD, but secretly he believed that JD had what it took to become a great doctor, and the two had one of the most beloved relationships in all of “Scrubs. “Dr. Cox’s relationship with his ex-wife Jordan, played by creator Bill Lawrence’s wife Christa Miller, was one of the series’ longest-running plotlines, with the two getting back together, welcoming two children, getting divorced (again) and remarried (again) by series end.

McGinley was the third member of the original cast to return as a regular for season nine. McGinley is set to co-star with Charlie Sheen in an upcoming series called “Ramble On. “John McGinley.

Joe Scarnici/Getty ImagesBefore McGinley, 63, landed “Ramble On,” he had made appearances in major television series such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Chicago PD. ” In both, he played corrupt cops. Over his decades-long career, McGinley has become a prolific character actor, appearing in dozens of movies.

Most memorably, he’s been in “Point Break,” “Platoon,” “Wall Street,” “Office Space,” “42,” “Battle of the Sexes,” and more. In August 2006, he married yoga instructor Nichole Kessler. Neil Flynn portrayed a suspicious janitor known only as The Janitor.

Neil Flynn as The Janitor. NBCThe Janitor began the series disliking JD because he assumed JD broke a door he was fixing. At that moment, he swore that he’d get revenge on JD.

From that moment on, whenever he saw JD, he made sure to insult him, play mind games with him, or just generally torment him. Although he had a personal vendetta against JD, he had a kinder side that was displayed to patients and other staff members, specifically Elliot. During season eight, his final season as a regular, the Janitor admitted his name was Glenn Matthews.

The Janitor only appeared in the first episode of season nine during a flashback. Flynn is known to a whole new generation of TV watchers as Mike Heck on “The Middle. “Neil Flynn.

Paul Archuleta/Getty ImagesNot only was Flynn, 61, a main character in “Scrubs,” he went on to be one of the stars of the Emmy-nominated series “The Middle” from 2009 to 2018. Other shows that Flynn has been in include the sitcom “Abby’s,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “Undateable. ”  He was also in an episode of Jordan Peele’s (creator of “Nope” and “Get Out”) and Keegan-Michael Key’s comedy sketch series “Key and Peele.

“Like John C. McGinley, Flynn is a prolific character actor, and has appeared in films like “Major League,” “The Fugitive,” “Anchorman,” “Hoot,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and most recently “5-25-77. “”Mean Girls” fans might also recognize him as Lindsay Lohan’s character’s dad, Chip Heron.

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