The Cast of ‘Scrubs’: Where Are They Now?
Though it’s been off the air for more than a decade, the TV show Scrubs remains a favorite of audiences. The series featured slapstick comedy, witty verbal exchanges, and surreal scenes that were often the result of main character J.D.’s overactive imagination. It blended its humor with the often devastating real-life circumstances of working in a hospital. And Scrubs made stars out of its beloved cast. So where are the actors today?
‘Scrubs’ aired for 9 seasons
Scrubs depicts the day-to-day lives of those working at Sacred Heart Hospital. The show is narrated from the perspective of John (“J.D.”) Dorian, played by Zach Braff. He begins working at the hospital as an intern alongside his best friend, Chris Turk (Donald Faison), and a new love interest, Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke). The three face obstacles in the form of others within the hospital, like J.D.’s mentor, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley), an unnamed janitor (Neil Flynn), chief of medicine Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), and Carla (Judy Reyes), a nurse who catches Turk’s eye.
Throughout the series, the doctors grow within their profession, as well as their personal lives. J.D. and Elliot have an on-again, off-again relationship that ends happily, while Turk and Carla marry and have two children. So eventually, they had to change things up a bit.
‘Scrubs: Med School’ was the final season
New characters entered the mix in the last couple of seasons. Eliza Coupe, Kerry Bishe, Michael Mosley, and Dave Franco took on pivotal roles in the last season, titled Scrubs: Med School. The season took the action outside of the hospital and into the classroom, where Drs. Cox, Turk, and, to some extent, Dorian, began teaching a new generation of doctors.
Sadly, the new concept wasn’t quite as well-received as the original. After the ninth season, ABC canceled the series. However, most of the actors went on to garner more notable roles, according to their IMDb pages.
What are they doing now?
Braff left Scrubs with hopes of furthering his film career. His 2004 directorial debut, Garden State, earned acclaim. However, Braff’s subsequent efforts didn’t do the same. His short-lived TV return, Alex, Inc., was canceled after just one season. In 2022, Braff appeared in two movies: A remake of the Disney comedy Cheaper by the Dozen and the HBO Max rom-com Moonshot.
Faison has remained an active player on TV. He starred in the sitcom The Exes and the short-lived thriller series Emergence. Faison’s also taken on several recurring arcs in shows like Ray Donovan and The L Words: Generation Q. In 2020, Faison and Braff launched a Scrubs rewatch podcast titled Fake Doctors, Real Friends, which has featured several former cast members.
Chalke also has earned a lot of TV credits. She recurred in comedies like How I Met Your Mother, Speechless, and Friends from College. At present, she stars in the Netflix series Firefly Lane. Chalke also does a lot of voice work — she’s currently voicing characters for multiple animated series, including Rick and Morty.
McGinley has made guest appearances in series including Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Chicago P.D. Over the last decade, he’s starred in two comedies: Stan Against Evil and Ground Floor, the latter of which was created by Lawrence.
Flynn went from Scrubs to The Middle, a popular ABC sitcom. After its 2018 cancelation, he starred in the short-lived Abby’s.
Jenkins has continued to act in a limited capacity. He had a recurring role in Lawrence’s follow-up sitcom Cougar Town. He also appeared in two episodes of Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Since Scrubs, Reyes has added some variety to her career. She starred in the mystery series Devious Maids and the beloved dramedy Claws. Reyes has also taken on several notable recurring roles in shows such as Jane the Virgin, One Day at a Time, and Succession. She appeared in the third and final season of Batwoman as the villainous Kiki Roulette.
