Every Scrubs Character Returning in the Reboot

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Fans are excited for the return of Scrubs with a new season planned for 2026—the first since the show ended in 2010. This revival won’t simply retell the old story; it seems eager to build on the show’s established history. While Scrubs, which originally aired starting in 2001, mostly kept the same main actors throughout its run (with a few changes in the ninth season), most of the original cast members who are available have agreed to return for the tenth season.

The upcoming season of Scrubs will feature both familiar faces from the original cast and some new additions. Because Scrubs has always focused on the experiences of young doctors navigating their careers and personal lives, bringing in new characters feels like a natural way to keep the show fresh. The creator, Bill Lawrence, tried something similar in Season 9, which was essentially a spin-off called Scrubs: Med School. Hopefully, this new approach will be more successful.

Sadly, Sam Lloyd, who famously played Ted the Lawyer on Scrubs (appearing in 95 episodes, plus a few on Cougar Town), passed away in 2020. While Ted might be mentioned in the upcoming Scrubs revival or appear through old clips, we won’t see Sam Lloyd reprise the role. It’s also uncertain if Neil Flynn will return as the Janitor, or if Ken Jenkins will come back as Dr. Bob Kelso, as he hasn’t acted since 2019.

Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian

Played By: Zach Braff


ABC

Although Scrubs featured a typical group of characters for a comedy, J.D. was clearly the show’s main focus. Zach Braff starred in the first eight seasons, but his role was reduced during the Med School season as the show prepared to move forward without him. Med School didn’t succeed, and a major reason was the change in cast.

Zach Braff has played a key role in bringing back Scrubs. As a co-host of the Fake Doctors, Real Friends podcast, he helped revive interest in the show, which led to its return to television. Braff is also directing the first episode of the revival, bringing his total number of directed Scrubs episodes to eight.

Dr. Christopher Turk

Played By: Donald Faison


ABC

Donald Faison, who starred alongside Zach Braff in Scrubs and is currently his co-host on the Fake Doctors, Real Friends podcast, will return for the revival, reprising his role as Turk. He was last seen as the Chief of Surgery at the new Sacred Heart Hospital, and recent previews suggest he still holds that position after 15 years. Like Braff, Faison has spent the last five years deeply analyzing Scrubs episodes and sharing behind-the-scenes stories on their rewatch podcast, contributing significantly to the show’s revival.

Dr. Elliot Reid-Dorian

Played By: Sarah Chalke


ABC

A lot happened for Elliot between seasons 8 and 9 of Scrubs. By the start of season 9, she was married to J.D. and expecting a baby, as shown in the Med School pilot episode. However, Elliot only appeared in four episodes of the ninth season, meaning viewers didn’t see their wedding or get to follow her pregnancy. Although a scene in season 8 hinted she might have left the medical field, promotional materials for the show’s revival reveal she’s still working as a doctor.

Nurse Carla Espinosa

Played By: Judy Reyes


ABC

Carla’s return to the new Scrubs series is particularly exciting because she was the only original main character who didn’t appear in the Med School spin-off. Previously, her character was mostly mentioned, like through phone calls where we didn’t hear her side of the conversation. The decision to have Carla stay home as a full-time mom in the ninth season didn’t quite feel right for her, so it’s fantastic that the revival allows her to rediscover her passion for nursing and show her strong personality again.

Dr. Percival “Perry” Ulysses Cox

Played By: John C. McGinley


ABC

Dr. Cox was a fan favorite on Scrubs, so fans would have been upset if he wasn’t included in the new series. Luckily, John McGinley, the actor who played him, is returning. He’s often talked about how much he loved working with the original cast and how great the show was. While it was expected he’d be back, it’s still great news! Interestingly, Dr. Cox will be older in the revival’s first episode than Dr. Kelso was when Scrubs first began in 2001, which is a reminder of how much time has passed.

Dr. Todd Quinlan

Played By: Rob Maschio


ABC

Best known as ‘The Todd’ from his time on Scrubs, Maschio’s character was a huge hit with fans during the show’s original run. He’s been in all nine seasons, making him one of the most frequent cast members outside of the main stars. Though he’s mostly retired from acting and now works in real estate, Maschio was eager to reprise his role. It’s uncertain whether the revival will change his character, as some of his lines from the original series (2001-2010) might not be appropriate for today’s audiences. Hopefully, the writers will be able to maintain the charm and appeal that made him such a beloved character on Scrubs.

Hooch

Played By: Phill Lewis


ABC

Though he only appeared in five episodes of Scrubs between 2005 and 2009, Hooch was a surprisingly memorable character. That’s why fans are excited about his return in the revival! He was last seen in J.D.’s goodbye fantasy at the end of Season 8, finally confirming the running joke that “Hooch is crazy.” While it’s unknown how big a role he’ll have, any scenes with Lewis as Hooch are sure to be entertaining.

The ‘Scrubs’ Revival Also Has Several New Characters


ABC

Similar to how new interns were constantly introduced during the original Scrubs series, especially in Season 9, the revival will follow the same pattern. The new intern class includes David Gridley as Blake, Ava Bunn as Serena, Layla Mohammadi as Amara, Jacob Dudman as Asher, and Amanda Morrow as Dashana. While they all have acting experience, their roles in the Scrubs revival are likely to be their most prominent to date.

Vanessa Bayer, known from Saturday Night Live, will play Sibby, who leads a new wellness program in the show. Joel Kim Booster, recognizable from Loot, Big Mouth, and KPop Demon Hunters, is joining the cast as Dr. Eric Park. The Scrubs reboot will premiere on February 25, 2026, airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu.

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2025-11-23 20:04