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Patrick Dempsey

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Patrick Dempsey
Dempsey in 2016
Born
Patrick Galen Dempsey

(1966-01-13) January 13, 1966 (age 58)
Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • racecar driver
Years active1985–present
Spouses
Rocky Parker
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1994)​
Jillian Fink
​
(m. 1999)​
Children3 (Talula Fyfe Dempsey, Darby Galen Dempsey, Sullivan Patrick Dempsey)
United SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2014
Current teamDempsey Racing
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Car number27
Wins2
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish18th in 2014
Finished last season18th
Previous series
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years
Teams
Best finish22nd (2nd in class)(2015)

Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966)[1] is an American actor and racing driver. He is best known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy (2005-15; 2020-21). He is also known for his leading man romantic films roles, including in Enchanted (2007). Dempsey has received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, and was named as People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2023.[2]

Dempsey started his career acting in films such as Can't Buy Me Love (1987) and Loverboy (1989). He has since starred in several romantic comedy films such as Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Made of Honor (2008), Valentine's Day (2010), and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). Dempsey has also taken dramatic roles in Outbreak (1995), Scream 3 (2000), Freedom Writers (2007), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Thanksgiving (2023), and Ferrari (2023). He starred in and produced Flypaper (2011), and The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019).

Dempsey, who maintains a sports car and vintage car collection, enjoys auto racing in his spare time. He has competed in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car races, and the Ensenada SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race. Prior to the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans, Dempsey declared that he would "walk away" from acting if he could and dedicate himself full-time to motorsports.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine,[1] and grew up in the nearby towns of Turner and Buckfield. He has two older sisters.[4] His mother, Amanda (née Casson),[5] was a school secretary, and his father, William, was an insurance salesman.[1][6][7]

He attended Leavitt Area High School, Buckfield High School and St. Dominic Regional High School, and after moving to Houston attended Willowridge High School.[4]

In his youth, Dempsey participated in juggling competitions. In 1981, he achieved second place at the International Jugglers' Association Championship in the Juniors category, just behind Anthony Gatto, who is considered to be the best technical juggler of all time.[8]

Dempsey was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 12. He told Barbara Walters on her 2008 Oscar special that he thinks dyslexia made him what he is today. "It's given me a perspective of — you have to keep working," Dempsey told Walters. "I have never given up."[9]

Acting career

[edit]

1984–1989: Early roles and breakthrough

[edit]

An invitation to audition for a role in the stage production of Torch Song Trilogy led to Patrick Dempsey's discovery as an actor. His audition was successful and he spent the following four months touring with the company in Philadelphia. He followed this with another tour, Brighton Beach Memoirs, in the lead role, which was directed by Gene Saks. Dempsey has also made notable appearances in the stage productions of On Golden Pond, with the Maine Acting Company, and as Timmy (the Martin Sheen role) in a 1990 off-Broadway revival of The Subject Was Roses co-starring with John Mahoney and Dana Ivey at the Roundabout Theatre in New York.

Dempsey's first major feature film role was at age 21 with Beverly D'Angelo in the film In The Mood, the actual World War II story about Ellsworth Wisecarver whose relationships with older married women created a national uproar. He then co-starred in the third installment of the comedy classic Meatballs III: Summer Job, alongside Sally Kellerman in 1987. This was followed by the teen comedy Can't Buy Me Love in 1987 with actress Amanda Peterson and Some Girls with Jennifer Connelly in 1988. In 1989, Dempsey had the lead role in the films Loverboy with actress Kirstie Alley and Happy Together with actress Helen Slater.[10]

1990–2004: Established actor

[edit]
Dempsey at the 80th Academy Awards

Dempsey made several featured appearances in television in the 1990s; he was cast several times in pilots that were not picked up for a full season, including lead roles in the TV versions of the films The Player and About A Boy. He received positive reviews,[11] however, as he portrayed real-life mob boss, Meyer Lansky in 1991 when Mobsters was put on the screen. His first major television role was a three-episode stint as Will Truman's closeted sportscaster boyfriend on Will & Grace. He appeared in four episodes of Once & Again as Aaron Brooks, the schizophrenic brother of Lily (Sela Ward). Dempsey received an Emmy[12] nomination in 2001 as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role of Aaron. In 1993, he played a young John F. Kennedy in the two-part TV mini-series JFK: Reckless Youth. In 2000, he played Detective Kincaid in Scream 3.[10]

Dempsey had a high-profile role as the fiancé of Reese Witherspoon's character in Sweet Home Alabama (2002). In 2004, he co-starred in the highly acclaimed HBO production Iron Jawed Angels, opposite Hilary Swank and Anjelica Huston. He also appeared as special guest star in The Practice for its three-episode finale season (8x13-8x15).

2005–2015: Stardom and Grey's Anatomy

[edit]
Main article: Grey's Anatomy

Dempsey has received significant public attention for his role as Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy opposite Ellen Pompeo. Before landing the role, Dempsey auditioned for the role of Dr. Chase on another medical show, House. He also appeared in two episodes of the later Grey's spinoff Private Practice, playing the same character of Dr. Shepherd.[10] The relationship his character had with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) on screen has received a lot of praise and positive reactions.

In 2007, Dempsey starred in the Disney film Enchanted, and the Paramount Pictures film Freedom Writers, where he reunited with his Iron Jawed Angels co-star Hilary Swank. He also voiced the character Kenai in Brother Bear sequel Brother Bear 2, replacing Joaquin Phoenix. Dempsey's most recent roles include the 2008 film Made of Honor as Tom, and the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine's Day; the latter film follows five interconnecting stories about Los Angelinos anticipating (or in some cases dreading) the holiday of love.[13] Universal Pictures acquired the rights to the prize-winning novel The Art of Racing in the Rain in July 2009, for Dempsey to star in.[14] The film instead starred Milo Ventimiglia.[15] He starred as Dylan Gould in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011).[16][17]

In January 2014, he signed a two-year contract to remain on Grey's Anatomy, then in its tenth season, that would ensure his participation for potential 11th and 12th seasons.[18][19][20] Dempsey was nominated for Best Actor – Television Series Drama at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards for the role. His success on the show has led to his becoming a spokesman for Mazda and State Farm Insurance.[21][22] BuddyTV ranked him #1 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011".[23] In November 2020, Dempsey appeared as Derek Shepherd at the start of the series' 17th season for the first time since the character had died in April 2015.[24]

2016–present

[edit]

Following his departure from Grey's Anatomy, Dempsey was working on two small-screen projects: a drama The Limit for SundanceTV and a travelogue spy thriller called Fodors. He said:

I would love to do something else. I'm going to take the rest of the year off to develop. I would like to be a producer. I would commit to a show that is 10 to 12 episodes. But 24 again, I don't know if I would do that. It's a very hard life. It's financially rewarding but there comes a point where how much is enough, really? I'm focusing now on developing and racing and being a father to my children.[25]

In 2016, Dempsey starred in the Universal Pictures film Bridget Jones's Baby with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth,[26] and in 2018 he appeared on Epix television miniseries The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair.[27] In 2017 he participated in the short film Red Nose Day Actually, a sequel to the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually. Dempsey played the role of the husband of Laura Linney's character Sarah. Starting from 2020 he has portrayed Harry Morgan in the Sky Atlantic financial thriller series Devils. On February 4, 2020, Dempsey signed on to star as the lead of a CBS political drama pilot Ways & Means, where he would portray a Congressional leader.[28] Initially planned to be considered for the 2020-21 televisions season, the pilot was rolled into consideration for the following season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CBS ultimately passed on the finished pilot in May 2021.[29] In January 2021, it was announced that Dempsey would reprise his role in the Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted, which began production in spring of that year.[30] The film was released on Disney+ in late 2022.[31] In 2023, he portrayed Sheriff Eric Newlon in the slasher film Thanksgiving and Piero Taruffi in the biographical sports drama Ferrari directed by Michael Mann.

Auto racing

[edit]
Dempsey at the 2008 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

In 2014, Dempsey told Reuters in the Hockenheimring support paddock at the German Grand Prix that motor racing was not just a hobby, and had become as much a part of who he is as acting. He said, "It's all-consuming in many ways. I couldn't imagine not racing right now. It really keeps me motivated. It's all I think about on a daily basis."[32]

Dempsey, who maintains an extensive sports and vintage car collection, has enjoyed auto racing in his spare time for several years. Before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013, he said that he would like to compete full-time, telling Eurosport:

I would like to make that [motorsports] a complete priority and just focus on this full-time. If I could just walk away from acting, I think I could do that very easily, and just focus on the driving, I would love that more than anything else.[33]

Dempsey waves to the crowd at the 2015 Indianapolis 500, where he served as the Honorary Starter.

He has competed in prestigious events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car races, and the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race. He was a co-owner of the Vision Racing IndyCar Series team and current owner of Dempsey Racing, which is presently racing two Porsche 911 GT America's in the Tudor United Sports Car Series. He participated in this series as often as his schedule allowed, although insurance restrictions kept him from driving competitively while also filming a motion picture. In 2009, he raced a Team Seattle Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430 GT in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans's GT2 class and finished ninth in class.[34]

Dempsey announced he would race the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona along with other races throughout the season in a Mazda RX-8.[35] Dempsey finished in third place in the GT Class of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 2012, Dempsey competed in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Racing-Multimatic Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which, after five successful racing seasons in Europe, was to make its debut on American tracks. He formed the Dempsey Racing team to compete in the American Le Mans Series. The team fielded a full-time Oreca FLM09 in the Prototype Challenge class as well as a Lola B12/80 coupe in the Prototype 2 class from Laguna Seca onward. [citation needed]

After debuting at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, Dempsey returned to France four years later and competed in a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Dempsey and his co-drivers finished 29th overall and fourth in-class. [citation needed] In 2015, Dempsey focused on participating in the FIA World Endurance Championship with his own Dempsey Racing-Proton team in the GTE-Am class in a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, teamed with Patrick Long[36] and Marco Seefried. He told Porsche Newsroom: "Not much changes in my TV work, but everything changes constantly in motor racing – every lap, every bend and every moment."[36]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2004 Panoz Racing Series (GT class) TBA 2 0 0 0 0 9 9th
2006 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race (Pro class) TBA 1 0 TBA TBA 1 N/A 2nd
2007 Rolex Sports Car Series (GT class) Hyper Sport 1 0 0 0 0 21 82nd
2008 Rolex Sports Car Series (GT class) Hyper Sport 9 0 0 0 0 143 30th
2009 Rolex Sports Car Series (GT class) Dempsey Racing 7 0 0 0 0 143 20th
24 Hours of Le Mans (GT2 class) Advanced Engineering
Team Seattle 		1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th
2010 Rolex Sports Car Series (GT class) Dempsey Racing 4 0 0 0 0 89 29th
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (ST class) Freedom Autosport 1 0 0 0 0 9 90th
2011 Rolex Sports Car Series (GT class) Dempsey Racing 11 0 0 0 1 226 11th
2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (GS class) Multimatic Motorsports 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Rolex Sports Car Series (GT class) Dempsey Racing 9 0 0 0 0 138 24th
American Le Mans Series (LMP2 class) Dempsey Racing 5 0 0 0 2 53 3rd
Maserati Trofeo World Series TBA 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2013 American Le Mans Series (GTC class) Dempsey Racing/Del Piero 10 0 0 0 3 87 7th
24 Hours of Le Mans (GTE Am class) Dempsey Del Piero-Proton 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th
2014 United SportsCar Championship (GTD class) Dempsey Racing 8 0 0 0 1 134 18th
24 Hours of Le Mans (GTE Am class) Dempsey Racing-Proton 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
Porsche Supercup Porsche AG 1 0 0 0 0 0‡ NC‡
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship (GTE Am class) Dempsey Racing-Proton 7 1 1 0 2 116 6th
24 Hours of Le Mans (GTE Am class) Dempsey Racing-Proton 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
Porsche Supercup Porsche AG 1 0 0 0 0 0‡ NC‡
United SportsCar Championship (GTD class) Wright Motorsports 1 0 0 0 1 31 33rd
Source:[37]

‡ Not eligible for points.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2009 Italy Advanced Engineering
United States Team Seattle 		United States Don Kitch Jr.
United States Joe Foster 		Ferrari F430 GT2 GT2 301 30th 9th
2013 United States Dempsey Del Piero-Proton United States Joe Foster
United States Patrick Long 		Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GTE
Am 		305 28th 4th
2014 United States Dempsey Racing-Proton United States Joe Foster
United States Patrick Long 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		329 24th 5th
2015 Germany Dempsey-Proton Racing United States Patrick Long
Germany Marco Seefried 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		330 22nd 2nd
Sources:[38][39]

Complete Rolex Sports Car Series results

[edit]

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points Ref
2007 Hyper Sport GT Mazda RX-8 GT Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor DAY MEX HOM VIR LGA LIM WGL MDO DAY IOW BAR MON MIL
27/10 		82nd 21 [40]
2008 Hyper Sport GT Mazda RX-8 GT Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor DAY
39/24 		HOM
27/14 		MEX VIR LGA LIM WGL
36/19 		MDO
24/12 		DAY
25/11 		BAR
28/14 		MON
26/9 		NJ
33/19 		MIL
26/14 		30th 143 [41]
2009 Dempsey Racing GT Mazda RX-8 GT Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor DAY
35/22 		VIR NJ
15/7 		LGA
22/10 		WGL
21/7 		MDO
18/6 		DAY
26/11 		BAR WGL MON MIL HOM
28/11 		20th 143 [42]
2010 Dempsey Racing GT Mazda RX-8 GT Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor DAY
13/6 		HOM
21/7 		BAR
21/10 		VIR
23/12 		LIM WGL MDO DAY NJ WGL MON MIL 29th 89 [43]
2011 Dempsey Racing GT Mazda RX-8 GT Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor DAY
14/3 		HOM
31/18† 		BAR
18/8 		VIR
21/13 		LIM
20/11 		WGL
15/9 		ELK LGA
23/13 		NJ
16/9 		WGL
22/11 		MON
21/11 		MDO
21/11 		11th 226 [44]
2012 Dempsey Racing GT Mazda RX-8 GT Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor DAY
21/10 		BAR
21/13 		HOM
21/14† 		NJ BEL
25/16 		MDO
18/10 		ELK
17/11 		WGL
26/16 		IMS
31/21 		WGL MON LGA
23/13 		LIM 24th 138 [45]

† Did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.

Complete Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge results

[edit]

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points Ref
2010 Freedom Autosport ST Mazdaspeed3 C DAY
47/22 		HOM BAR VIR LIM WGL MDO NJ TRO MIL 90th 9 [46]
2012 Multimatic Motorsports GS Aston Martin Vantage C DAY
63/32 		BAR
72/32 		HOM NJ MDO ELK WGL IMS LGA LIM NC‡ 0‡ [47]

‡ As Dempsey was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete Maserati Trofeo World Series results

[edit]

(key)

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points Ref
2012 JAR
1 		JAR
2 		ALG
1 		ALG
2 		ALG
3 		IMO
1 		IMO
2 		IMO
3 		LEC
1 		LEC
2 		SON
1
6 		SON
2 		SON
3
Ret 		SHA
1 		SHA
2 		NC‡ 0‡ [48]

‡ As Dempsey was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete American Le Mans Series results

[edit]

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points Ref
2012 Dempsey Racing LMP2 Lola B12/87 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 M SEB LBH LGA
30/4 		LIM
7/3 		MOS MDO
9/4 		ELK
9/2 		BAL VIR ATL
Ret 		3rd 53 [49]
2013 Dempsey Racing/Del Piero GTC Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 Y SEB
29/6 		LBH
26/6 		LGA
21/2 		LIM
30/7 		MOS
25/4 		ELK
27/4 		BAL
16/4 		AUS
23/3 		VIR
23/6 		ATL
23/2† 		7th 87 [50]

† Did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.

Complete United SportsCar Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points Ref
2014 Dempsey Racing GTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
50/24 		SEB
42/15 		LGA
27/20 		BEL WGL
23/4† 		MOS
27/11 		IMS
34/9 		ELK
40/13 		VIR
10/3 		AUS
41/14 		ATL
49/18† 		24th 153 [51]
2015 Wright Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
13/3 		SEB LGA BEL WGL LIM ELK VIR AUS ATL 33rd 31 [52]

† Did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete Porsche Supercup results

[edit]

(key)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points Ref
2014 Porsche AG ESP MON AUT GBR GER
23 		HUN BEL ITA USA USA NC‡ 0‡ [53]
2015 Porsche AG ESP MON AUT GBR HUN BEL
29 		BEL
23 		ITA ITA USA USA NC‡ 0‡ [54]

‡ As Dempsey was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

[edit]
Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2015 Dempsey Racing-Proton LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
6 		SPA
5 		LMS
2 		NÜR
4 		COA
4 		FUJ
1 		SHA
4 		BHR 6th 116
Source:[38]

Other ventures

[edit]

Promotional work

[edit]

He has been the face of L'Oreal and Versace and was featured in ads for Serengeti sunglasses. In November 2008, he launched an Avon fragrance named Unscripted. In June 2009, Women's Wear Daily reported the launch of a second Avon fragrance named Patrick Dempsey 2.[55] The fragrance was recognized as the "Men's Private Label/Direct Sell" for the 2010 FiFi Awards.[56][57] On September 29, 2012, Mexican cable company Cablemás, Megacable and Mexico city's Cablevisión launched an advertising campaign featuring Dempsey as the love interest of a domestic worker who comes across his profile on an online dating site.[58]

Starting in 2013, Patrick Dempsey became the face of Silhouette, promoting eyewear fashion from Austria.[59] From January 2017 Dempsey appears for Vodafone Italy and he appears in some Italian spots about it.[60] In 2018, Bleusalt, a Malibu-based fashion brand launched a clothing line designed by the actor.[61][62]

Business interests

[edit]

In January 2013, Dempsey announced that his company (Global Baristas) had secured the winning bid to purchase Seattle-based Tully's Coffee, which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October. Dempsey's bid of $9.15M was enough to secure Tully's over the bids of six others, including Starbucks. Dempsey's company will control 47 Tully's locations in the Seattle area, but not the online business, which had been purchased by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in 2009.[63]

Following a legal dispute with investor group Global Baristas, Dempsey left the group, in effect officially leaving his managerial positions with Tully's. Dempsey filed a lawsuit on behalf of Global Baristas, claiming Michael Avenatti borrowed $2 million against Tully's assets without informing Dempsey, rather than fully financing the coffee chain as was promised, calling the 15 percent interest rate on the loan "exorbitant" and sued for Avenatti to fund Tully's operations and meet its working capital needs, as well as for any damages owed the company. Soon after, Dempsey's lawyer's office issued a statement saying the partnership was dissolved and that Dempsey wished the lawyer and the company "all the best". Avenatti has stated the dispute was a "misunderstanding" and will continue operating with other investors and new management.[64][65]

Philanthropy

[edit]

In 1997, Dempsey's mother, Amanda, was diagnosed with cancer which subsequently relapsed five times. On March 24, 2014, she died in Lewiston, Maine, aged 79.[66] In response to his mother's bouts with cancer, Dempsey helped start the Patrick Dempsey Center at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. In October 2009, when Dempsey introduced the first Dempsey Challenge, registration was closed after reaching the goal of 3,500 cyclists, runners and walkers. The event raised more than $1 million for the cancer center. His mother was in the crowd as Dempsey finished his 50-mile (80 km) ride.[67] The Challenge has since become an annual October event presented by Amgen in the Lewiston–Auburn area.[68] On May 28, 2017, Dempsey received an honorary doctorate from Bates College in his hometown, Lewiston, Maine, for his philanthropy in the town and funding of "the Dempsey Center — just blocks from the Bates campus."[69]

Dempsey was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bowdoin College in 2013 for his philanthropic work.[70] His Grey's Anatomy character Derek Shepherd had been written as a Bowdoin graduate after an alumnus led a petition signed by over 450 students to "adopt" the character as an alumnus.[71]

In 2023, Dempsey helped raise funds for families of the Lewiston shooting victims.[72] He joined a charity softball tournament with former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee.[73]

Personal life

[edit]

Dempsey was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 12. As a result, it is necessary for him to memorize all his lines to perform, even for auditions where he is unlikely to get the part.[74][75]

Entertainment Weekly put Dempsey's hair on its end-of-the-decade "best-of" list, saying, "What made Grey's Anatomy a mega-medi-hit? It could have something to do with creator Shonda Rhimes's scalpel-sharp writing… or McDreamy's impossibly luxurious man hair. Just saying."[76] In 2005, People magazine ranked him second in its annual list of "Sexiest Men Alive"[77] and again in 2006.[78] Patrick Dempsey was named People magazine's 2023 "Sexiest Man Alive" for its November 2023 issue.[79]

Dempsey has been married twice. On August 24, 1987,[1] he married his manager,[80] actress and acting coach, Rochelle "Rocky" Parker, when he was 21 and she was 48.[81] She appeared with Dempsey in the film In the Mood. While it has been reported that Dempsey married his best friend's mother, he has said that he became best friends with Parker's son only after he became romantically involved with Parker. The couple divorced on April 26, 1994. She died in 2014.[82]

On July 31, 1999, Dempsey married makeup artist Jillian Fink.[80] The couple have three children.[80][83][4][82] In January 2015, Fink filed for divorce,[84] but the couple reconciled later in the year.[85] They called off their divorce on November 12, 2016.[86] Dempsey formerly owned a home in Harpswell, Maine near his hometown. His mother moved into a farm next to his home.[87] Dempsey is a supporter of Scottish football club Rangers F.C. because of his Scottish connection through his step-grandfather.[88]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Stuff Underground Stuff Buyer #2 Uncredited
Heaven Help Us Corbet
1986 A Fighting Choice Kellin Taylor
Meatballs III: Summer Job Rudy Gerner
1987 Can't Buy Me Love Ronald Miller
In the Mood Ellsworth 'Sonny' Wisecarver
1988 Some Girls Michael
In a Shallow Grave Potter Daventry
1989 Loverboy Randy Bodek
Happy Together Christopher Wooden
1990 Coupe de Ville Robert 'Bobby' Libner
1991 Mobsters Meyer Lansky
Run Charlie Farrow
1993 Bank Robber Billy
Face the Music Charlie Hunter
1994 With Honors Everett Calloway
Ava's Magical Adventure Jeffrey Also director
1995 Outbreak Jimbo Scott
1997 Hugo Pool Floyd Gaylen
1998 Denial Sam
The Escape Clayton
2000 Scream 3 Det. Mark Kincaid
2002 Sweet Home Alabama Andrew Hennings
The Emperor's Club Older Louis Masoudi
2003 Lucky 7 Peter Connor
2004 Iron Jawed Angels Ben Weissman
2006 Brother Bear 2 Kenai (voice) Direct-to-video
2007 Freedom Writers Scott Casey
Enchanted Robert Philip
2008 Made of Honor Tom Bailey
2010 Valentine's Day Harrison Copeland
2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon Dylan Gould
Flypaper Tripp Also producer
2013 Ushi Must Marry Himself
2016 Bridget Jones's Baby Jack Qwant
2019 Hurley Himself Also producer
The Art of Racing in the Rain None Producer
2022 Disenchanted Robert Philip
2023 Ferrari Piero Taruffi
Thanksgiving Sheriff Eric Newlon

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Fast Times Mike Damone 7 episodes
A Fighting Choice Kellin Taylor Television film
1989 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The Plant (voice) Episode: "Super Plant/The Pied Koopa", also production manager
1993 JFK: Reckless Youth John F. Kennedy Miniseries
1996 The Right to Remain Silent Tom Harris Film
A Season in Purgatory Harrison Burns Miniseries
1997 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Pierre Arronax
1998 Jeremiah Jeremiah Film
Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov
2000–2001 Will & Grace Matthew 3 episodes
2000; 2002 Once and Again Aaron Brooks 4 episodes
2001 Blonde Cass Bulut Film
2003 Lucky 7 Peter Connor
Karen Sisco Carl Wilkens Episode: Blown Away
2004 The Practice Dr. Paul Stewart 3 episodes
2005–2015,
2020–2021 		Grey's Anatomy Dr. Derek Shepherd Main role (seasons 1–11)
Recurring (season 17)
2009, 2012 Private Practice Dr. Derek Shepherd 2 episodes
2014 Phineas and Ferb Paolo Vanderbeek Episode: Live and Let Drive
2017 Red Nose Day Actually Sarah's Husband Short film
2018 The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair Harry Quebert Miniseries
2020–2022 Devils Dominic Morgan Main role
2024 Dexter: Original Sin Aaron Spencer Main role
TBD Ways & Means TBD Main role, also executive producer

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1987 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy
Can't Buy Me Love
 Won
2000 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Once and Again
 Nominated
2005 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama Grey's Anatomy Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2006 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actor Drama Nominated
2007 People's Choice Awards Favorite Male TV Star Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2008 People's Choice Awards Favorite Male TV Star Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actor Drama Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best Kiss (with Amy Adams)
Enchanted
 Nominated
National Movie Awards Best Performance — Male Nominated
2009 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Drama Actor Grey's Anatomy Nominated
2010 Nominated
2011 Nominated
Favorite TV Doctor Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actor
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
 Nominated
2012 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Drama Actor Grey's Anatomy Nominated
2014 Nominated
Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (with Ellen Pompeo) Nominated
2015 Favorite TV Drama Actor Won

References

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  8. ^ 1981 Juniors Championship of the International Jugglers' Association (IJA) website Archived December 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine; accessed March 6, 2015. He then went on to be discovered at a local talent competition, Talent America, which catapulted his career under agent Davina Wells, one of the organization’s judges.
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