Zach Braff shares hilarious behind-the-scenes story about Morgan Freeman

Zach Braff shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes moment involving Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman.

The Scrubs star and director, 50, revealed on The View on March 2 that Freeman, 88, once lost a bet to him and paid up in unforgettable fashion.

“For years, my outgoing voicemail was, ‘Hello, this is Morgan Freeman. Zach Braff can’t come to the phone right now,’” Braff explained, leaning into Freeman’s iconic deep voice.

The two have collaborated on Braff’s 2017 film Going in Style and 2023’s A Good Person. Braff recalled the thrill of getting Freeman on board for the latter.

“I just thought, ‘He’s giving me a courtesy call.’ I picked it up, and he didn’t even say hello. He just said, ‘I see myself on every page of the script.’ I said, ‘Does that mean yes?’ and he said, ‘Yes, that means yes,’” Braff recounted. 

“That was thrilling, but then we had to figure out how to make it in COVID times in New Jersey.”

Braff also opened up about directing Harrison Ford on Apple TV+’s Shrinking, sharing the lighter moments on set.

“You ever have moments where you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m directing Harrison Ford,’” Braff said. 

“He’s gruff, very gruff, but once you get past that, we have a good time together. The secret is acting like they’re not famous—it relaxes them.”

Braff added that this approach works with other legendary actors, including Whoopi Goldberg, making his set a welcoming space for big Hollywood names.

In addition to his directing work, Braff has returned to acting as part of the Scrubs revival, with season 10 premiering on Feb. 25.