Interview / Bri Ng Schwartz
Photographer / Dax Henry
Styling / Bri Ilarda
Grooming / Nicole Servin
Actor David Gridley has kicked off 2026 with a bang, becoming a member of a powerhouse packed ensemble within the Scrubs reboot. The revamped collection brings again unique forged Zach Braff (J.D.), Donald Faison (Turk), Sarah Chalke (Elliot), John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox), and Judy Reyes (Carla) together with a brand new class of medical doctors that includes acquainted faces Vanessa Bayer (Sibby) and Joel Kim Booster (Dr. Eric Park) with Gridley as Blake Lewis, a tricky character on the hospital ground.
With over a decade of being a working actor underneath his belt, Gridley has developed a eager sense for what goes into creating a personality with layers in each TV and Movie. We talk about his Scrubs journey, the place his love for sitcoms originated in addition to classes realized being within the business for over a decade.
High, Brunello Cucinelli. Backside, Alexander McQueen.
What has it been wish to step into such an iconic franchise?
It has been a whirlwind. I believe I’m simply now processing how huge that is and what an impression it has and has had earlier than. My head hasn’t stopped spinning for the reason that reserving.
What are you able to share about your character, Blake Lewis?
He’s a really alpha male kind. He’s not one to ask for assist or actually buddy up with the opposite interns as a result of he thinks he can do all of it himself and doesn’t have lots of endurance for incompetence. So he’s a little bit of a tricky character to take care of.
Might you share extra concerning the place you go as an actor when enjoying a personality like that?
He does have explanation why he’s cocky, conceited, chilly, and it’s all protection mechanisms. His previous traumas he’s been via as a type of partitions and boundaries he’s put as much as shield himself. I may pull lots of these protection mechanisms from myself.
So far as the outer confidence, I imply, it’s enjoyable to play, however I don’t function like that. It’s been enjoyable to find that and be challenged by it.
It’s such an ensemble-driven present. Not solely with that unique forged, however the brand new forged you’re arising with. It’s an insane roster. Do you could have any memorable moments from working alongside these people?
The primary time all of us obtained collectively and we heard the strains learn by them and simply watching all of it occur was a really iconic second. Simply seeing Zach, Donald and Sarah do their factor when you’re within the scene with them, it’s mind-blowing.
They’re so gracious and so inviting. We by no means felt like outsiders or felt like the brand new youngsters. They immediately invited us into the household, and that basically made it straightforward for the entire newcomers to create with them.
What do you assume it’s about this franchise that resonates with viewers sufficient to deliver it again?
A whole lot of the followers are hitting on it within the feedback. They are saying it seems like a heat hug or like being embraced by somebody acquainted. I believe particularly now with all of the laborious stuff happening, the familiarity, one thing they know will make them giggle and really feel one thing.
It’s obtained the guts, it’s obtained the comedy, and the writers actually made this love bomb for the viewers. You get so connected to it. The watchability is so nice. You’ll be able to simply rip via episodes so quick. It feels just like the characters are in your life; you’re actually rising with them.
What sitcoms did you develop up watching?
Oh man, I grew up watching Household Issues. I additionally watched Recent Prince, after all. What was the one earlier than faculty? Saved by the Bell. Boy Meets World was huge.
Recent Prince, Boy Meets World, Saved By The Bell. They’ve all had reboots. There’s been talks of a Household Issues reboot on and off for years. There’s an actual want for nostalgic media proper now. How do you are feeling about it from an actor’s perspective?
With me, and I believe lots of viewers are like “Oh man, a reboot. They’re bringing it again. They’ll by no means have the ability to seize the unique.” However I believe what’s been so cool about Scrubs is it hasn’t been this regurgitated model of it. It truly is a revival choosing up the place these characters at the moment are. It’s acquainted, however it’s this new vitality with the guts nonetheless connected.
You’ve been within the business for over a decade now. What are a few of the greatest classes you’ve realized as a working actor?
The job can’t be your id. The minute you begin creating delight and an ego with appearing, you’ll get humbled so shortly. I adore it as a result of it challenges you, it retains you accountable, and it retains you current. You’re all the time in your toes, which can also be tremendous tense. Having youngsters provides one other layer to it. I like the randomness of going to a special metropolis or nation for a job, however then you could have youngsters and it’s tougher to navigate.
I’ve realized to only be grateful and to be current with each job. A whole lot of actors might be on one thing and be like, “Oh, what’s the following factor? What’s the following factor?” And I believe all through the years I’ve actually realized to actually love the job you’re on and actually take pleasure in it. That’s what’s been so nice about Scrubs. It’s checked off each dream that I’ve gained. Half hour, single cam comedy on a community and community gigs are laborious now. So it’s a dream job. So now it’s laborious too as a result of you could have these ebbs and flows. That’s one thing I’ve realized too, if you happen to get these excessive octane dopamine rushes of working, being on set, doing this stuff straight to only unemployment. And also you get despair each time I do no less than a number of weeks of despair after a gig, however simply realizing all the pieces’s seasonal and issues are available in seasons and it’s a brutal business.
I’ve months of interviewing any person each day, after which months the place I don’t even know if I can name myself a author as a result of I’m not engaged on something.
Completely. It’s brutal. What’s cool about it’s, you’re all the time attuned to the place you’re at. It challenges you to take care of these darkish ideas and discover out who you actually are, your grit and the perseverance you could have. Are you a aggressive individual?
I wish to say no, however I believe in sure environments I’m.
You bought to be. I really feel like working within the business, it’s a must to have a aggressive edge.
As I’m getting older, I remind myself that everyone’s path is tremendous distinctive. Everyone’s simply making an attempt to do their very own factor.
That’s huge. What’s yours is yours. You hear that rising up and if you’re struggling, you are feeling like nothing is yours, however you may’t compete with others. You compete with your self.
As an actor, do you wrestle with the typecasting of all of it? Strolling into audition rooms and also you see 5 different guys who look identical to you?
Oh yeah. It’s such a psychological recreation. My spouse has been pivotal. I don’t assume I’d be appearing nonetheless if it wasn’t for her. We’ve been collectively since highschool, so she’s been on the entire journey as and has been an actual advocate and cheerleader for me. You’ve obtained to have that assist to do that.
On the subject of household, what would you say to your child in the event that they advised you they needed to be an actor?
I’ve seen different households navigate this. It in all probability will come up as a result of he appears very as a four-year-old. It’s actually a steadiness of the mother and father and the children. Are you able to do it in a wholesome method? I suppose we’ll must cross the bridge when it comes, however I actually wouldn’t need to squash the dream.
What do you assume makes an excellent sitcom?
There’s a lot. Tempo, jokes inside a scene, the music’s obtained to be proper, modifying needs to be so good, and the characters have gotten to be iconic. It takes a complete village.
High, Rag & Bone. Backside, COS.
High, Helmut Lang. Sun shades, Ray-Ban. Watch, Casio.
You’ll be able to catch David Gridley as Blake on Scrubs, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+
