Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Zach Braff
Apr 3, 2023
Zach Braff, the charming actor and director known for his role in Scrubs and film Garden State, opens up about his complex Jewish upbringing and the unique bond with his best friend, Donald Faison. He shares insights on directing his new film, A Good Person, and the emotional challenges of working with stars like Morgan Freeman. The conversation also dives into the pressures of public approval in Hollywood, and the playful misadventures of recording a podcast in a mall, complete with encounters with security and hilarious celebrity anecdotes.
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Braff's Religious Upbringing
- Zach Braff grew up in a religiously diverse household with a Jewish father and a Protestant mother who converted.
- His mother became more religiously observant than his father, leading to a kosher home with separate dishes for meat and dairy.
Religious Whiplash
- Braff's parents divorced when he was eight, and his stepfather wasn't religious, leading to a contrasting lifestyle between his parents' homes.
- He used his bar mitzvah at 13 as leverage to convince his father to let him eat non-kosher food outside of his home.
Childhood OCD and Anxiety
- Zach Braff was diagnosed with OCD as a child, experiencing anxieties like needing to kiss a teddy bear six times before leaving a room.
- He attributes some of his childhood anxiety to the stress of joint custody and switching between different home environments.