J.D. (Scrubs)
| John Dorian (J.D.) | |
|---|---|
| Scrubs character | |
| First appearance | "My First Day" (2001) |
| Created by | Bill Lawrence |
| Portrayed by | Zach Braff (adult) Cody Estes (young) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | John Michael Dorian, M.D. |
| Nicknames | J.D., Johnny, Newbie, Scooter, Vanilla Bear, Bambi, Q-tip, Oldie, and a variety of girls' names |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | Chief of Medicine |
| Occupation | Doctor of internal medicine at Sacred Heart Hospital |
| Family | Sam Dorian (deceased father) Barbara Hobbs Dorian (mother) Dan Dorian (brother) Nana Hobbs (maternal grandmother) Grandma Dorian (deceased paternal grandmother) Dr. Simon Reid (father-in-law) Lily Reid (mother-in-law) Dr. Barry Reid (brother-in-law) Dr. Bradley Reid (brother-in-law) |
| Spouse | Elliot Reid (ex-wife) |
| Children | Sam Perry Gilligan Dorian (with Kim Briggs) Ollie Dorian (with Elliot) |
John Michael "J.D." Dorian, M.D., is a fictional character and the protagonist of the American comedy-drama television series, Scrubs.
Portrayed by Zach Braff, J.D. acts as the narrator and main character of the series from seasons one to eight, providing voice-overs that reveal his internal thoughts, often linking the story arcs in each episode.
J.D. appears in every episode during the first eight seasons, except for two in season 8: "My Absence," in which he is briefly heard through a mobile phone, and "My Full Moon." He later returns as a major character for six episodes of the ninth season. Braff also briefly portrayed the character in the webisode spin-off series Scrubs: Interns and the Muppets television film It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. He returns in the revival season which premiered in February 2026.
Both the character and Braff's performance were positively received. Braff was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005 and received three consecutive Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy nominations from 2005 to 2007.