Zach Braff's Father, Harold

FAMILY MATTERS

R-N law prof. speaks about his celebrity son

By: Kristy Barry

Posted: 1/23/07

Some parents don't get the credit they deserve.

For Harold Braff, the long-time lawyer and adjunct professor of law at Rutgers-Newark, keep the credits rolling.

His son Zach has rocked the ratings for the hit NBC sitcom "Scrubs" and the role as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian earned him a Golden Globe nod Monday.

Zach also wrote, directed and starred in the movie "Garden State." He lent his voice for "Chicken Little," bent the rules of love in "Last Kiss," and his new movie "The Ex" will hit theaters in March.

"We're rooting for him," beams Hal Braff, a resident of South Orange.

Harold is a 1959 graduate of Rutgers Law and has been practicing law ever since. When asked of his favorite lawyer joke, he responded by sharing stories of lawyers who've sacrificed time, energy and higher pay for a greater human good. In particular, he told a story of one lawyer who relinquished six weeks from work to travel to Louisiana to help victims of Katrina.

But at this age, Harold garners great joy from educating and is currently teaching a course on trial presentations at Rutgers-Newark. "I teach because teaching is a pleasure. It's a pleasure to be a part of a faculty." Braff said he believes that, "Every day there is a lesson, an opportunity to grow."



A proud father

Harold is honored when others recognize the accomplishments of his son, though most know of Zach through "Scrubs."

"He's an actor, a writer, a director, producer, and connoisseur of music… It's very exciting to go to a movie, look up and see your child on the screen," Harold beams. "My son is extremely generous, talented, has experienced success and that knowledge affirms. His charm, his kindness--I'm extremely proud of him."

In all, Zach's been nominated for three Golden Globes, one Emmy, and has brought home a Grammy for the "Garden State" soundtrack he produced.

With peaceful revere, the senior Braff boasted the beauty and ingenuity of his son's work. In particular, the pool scene from "Garden State" in which Zach's character doesn't want to admit he doesn't know how to swim and instead, jumps in awkwardly and clings to the side of the pool.

"Natalie Portman breaks away from the group and swims over to be with him. Isn't that what we all want? Someone to stray from the pack…" Harold stated with a smile. "It's brilliant."



On relationships

Braff said he's lost track of how many times he's seen "Garden State," and weighed in on the movie "Last Kiss."

"It's a very fine film," Braff said. "A film about relationships, consequences, betrayal, regrets and forgiveness. It's not fluff. It's serious, but funny too. Has you questioning relationships."

Braff separated from his wife Anne, who later married David Brodzinsky, a former psychology professor at Rutgers.

Aside from educating the lawyers of tomorrow, Harold teaches a class called "PAIRS: Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills" with his wife Elaine.

"We help people resuscitate relationships where most times, there's clearly a lack of understanding." The problem with marriages in this age, according to Harold, is that "people do not understand when they say they are committed, what that entails."

No matter what proper training people have received in various subjects and fields, "not a lot have training on how to be a wife or a husband. There's an attitude that 'if it doesn't work out, no big deal.'"



On acting

"I was an actor and Zach would come along with me and got smitten by it," Harold explained. At the age of eight, Zach was involved in the Livingston Community Players and Harold introduced his son to the lighting control board. "He was intrigued with the backstage elements. He auditioned for 'Music Man' and liked the idea of being on stage."

Zach attended Northwestern for a BA in film and created some obscure films "that may surface one day," Harold said.

When asked if his perception of Hollywood has changed, Harold said, "Everything is different. Just as if you were married to someone who plays professional lacrosse."

But, there's more talent where that came from; the family is full of exceptional people.

Sons Adam and Josh are writers living in California. Josh is the author of the book, "The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green," and Adam is a screenwriter whose latest project is a screenplay for "Andrew Henry's Meadow," an adaptation of Doris Burn's 1965 children's book.

Daughter Shoshi is a fashion designer, while stepdaughter Jessica is a successful comedian who appeared in "Last Comic Standing." Her sister Jennifer is the owner of a unique gift shop in Livingston.

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