Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey is an American actor best known for portraying Dr. Derek Shepherd on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Patrick’s journey into stardom began with roles in several films in the 1980s and 90s, including the teen comedy Can’t Buy Me Love and the romance Sweet Home Alabama. However, it was his role as the dreamy neurosurgeon on Grey’s Anatomy that catapulted his career to new heights. The love story of Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, became a cornerstone of the show, and his departure in 2015 was one of the series’ most emotional moments. Beyond Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick also starred in the popular series The Practice and the acclaimed miniseries The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair.
Throughout his career, Patrick has worked with a wide range of actors and actresses who have become industry luminaries. His collaborations include working with Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama, Shia LaBeouf in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones’s Baby. On the television front, he has shared screen time with Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Kate Walsh, and Katherine Heigl on Grey’s Anatomy, among others.
Patrick’s performance in Grey’s Anatomy earned him significant recognition in the industry. He was nominated for a 2006 and 2007 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama. He also received the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series along with the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. In 2011, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Bowdoin College, his home state’s liberal arts college, in recognition of his efforts to support cancer care in Maine.
Away from the screen, Patrick is known for his love for animals, particularly dogs. He and his family have several dogs, often seen in their social media posts. Patrick has used his platform to advocate for pet adoption and has worked with animal shelters to promote the cause. He’s also publicly shown his support for the Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. His commitment to this cause echoes his compassionate persona, both on and off-screen. Patrick Dempsey was People magazine’s “sexiest man alive” for its Nov. 20, 2023, issue.