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Hollywood's Hottest 2002 ... 50 Hottest Bachelors

Age: 27

Height: 6 ft.

Status: Never married

Residence: A two-bedroom house in L.A.

Education: Northwestern University, B.A. in film

The scoop: The star of NBC's breakout comedy Scrubs caught the acting bug watching his attorney father, Harold, perform community theater in South Orange, N.J. "I knew I had to be part of it," says the third of three sons (mom Anne is a psychologist), whose first audition was for a local production of The Music Man. "I ended up Trombone Player No. 1. Things have turned around since."

In his own words: "I don't date for the sake of dating," says Braff. "But if I meet someone I like, it's different. If the girl can handle it, I like to do something random. One of my best dates was when we walked into a church and went to an Indian wedding."

The ideal woman: Potential sweeties must contend with another woman: Annie Hall. "It's one of the most romantic and funny movies of all time," says Braff, who slips Woody Allen's 1977 classic into conversation as a test. "If she says, 'No, I've never seen it,' I go, 'You know what? I have to get up early.' "

What a catch: "Off-camera he has us all in stitches, and he's very thoughtful and charismatic," says Scrubs costar Sarah Chalke. "He recites Romeo and Juliet to all the women on the crew."