Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey’s career-defining role as Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd in the long-running medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy. Dempsey’s long involvement with Grey’s Anatomy has earned him numerous awards, including 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2 People’s Choice Awards, and 2 Golden Globe nominations.
Already in the 80s, Dempsey perfected the role of the “clumsy Prince Charming” with roles in romantic comedies like “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Loverboy”, “Happy Together” and many more. He also showed his funny side in Sweet Home Alabama (2002) and recently appeared in Disney’s musical comedy Enchanted (2007), Made of Honor (2008), and Valentine’s Day (2010). Patrick Dempsey, on the other hand, channeled his more serious side in Monster Transformers, which will be released at the box office in 2011: Dark of the Moon (2011) he channeled his more serious side.
Patrick Dempsey’s Age, Early Life, and Background Details
Patrick Galen Dempsey was born on January 13, 1966, in Lewiston, Maine. His father William Allen Dempsey worked as an insurance broker and his mother Amanda (née Casson) worked as a school secretary. Dempsey has European roots as his father is of German, English, Scottish, and distant Swedish descent. He grew up in Buckfield, Maine with 2 older siblings.
Patrick Dempsey attended St. Dominic Regional High School and later moved to Buckfield High School. However, he was not able to graduate from high school. As an adolescent Dempsey was very good at juggling and he participated in several juggling competitions. In 1981 he participated in the International Jugglers’ Association Championships, where he was the first runner-up to the legendary juggler Anthony Gatto.
Just like juggling, acting was a matter of course for the young Patrick Dempsey. He began his career as a theater actor in his hometown and also undertook tours to other cities. In 1985 Dempsey made his film debut in the comedy Heaven Help Us. This was promptly followed by roles in Meatballs III: Summer Job and 1986 in Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color: A Fighting Choice, both in 1986, and he also received regular roles in the short-lived sitcom Fast Times (1986). Dempsey’s up-and-coming acting career received a major boost when he got a lead role in the 1985 film In the Mood.
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In the late 1980s, Patrick cemented his “young charmer” personality with roles in comedy films such as Some Girls (1988), Loverboy (1989), and Happy Together (1989). Dempsey also appeared as the young John F. Kennedy in the mini-series JFK: Reckless Youth (1993). In 2001 he received an Emmy Award nomination for his guest role as Aaron Brook in the highly acclaimed series Once and Again. The talented actor also played the leading role opposite Reese Witherspoon in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama (2002).
Patrick Dempsey’s most notable television role is the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd in the long-running medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy. His epic portrayal of the character has earned him much critical acclaim, including 2 consecutive Golden Globe nominations, 2 SAG awards, and several others. Dempsey’s tenure as Derek Shepherd in Grey’s Anatomy ended in 2015 after 11 seasons. On the big screen, Patrick Dempsey was also critically acclaimed for his role in the musical-comedy blockbuster Enchanted (2007).
Besides his brilliant acting career, Patrick Dempsey is also well versed in car racing. According to the talented actor, who has taken part in several professional amateur races, motor racing is much more than just a hobby for him. Dempsey even plans to become a full-time race car driver if he ever retires from acting.
Patrick Dempsey’s Family, Wife, and Kids
The Hollywood star is currently married to the hairdresser and make-up professional Jillian Fink. The couple entered into the marriage on July 31, 1999, and after almost 16 years of marriage, Jillian Fink filed for divorce in early 2015. The reasons for the divorce petition were not disclosed. However, the two settled their differences and settled their relationship before the end of this year. The divorce petition was officially canceled in November 2016.
Before his present marriage, Patrick Dempsey was married to the former actress and acting coach Rochelle “Rocky” Parker. At the time of their marriage in 1987, there was an interesting age difference of 27 years between Dempsey and Parker. The duo played the leading role in the movie “In the Mood” in 1987 and Parker was Dempsey’s manager at the same time. Their marriage ended in divorce on April 26, 1994. Rocky Parker died in April 2014.
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Patrick Dempsey has 3 children with his wife Jillian Fink. On February 20, 2002, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Tallula Fyfe. On February 20, 2007, they welcomed two new family members, twin sons named Sullivan Patrick Dempsey and Darby Galen Dempsey.
Patrick Dempsey Net Worth
During his career as Dr. Derek Shepherd at Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey was the highest-paid cast member and one of the highest-paid television actors of the time. In addition to his illustrious career on the small screen, Dempsey also appeared in several box office hits, including Disney’s Enchanted (2007) and Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). All these and several juicy sponsorship deals bring the net value of this Hollywood leading actor to an estimated $60 million.
Height and Other Body Measurements
Patrick Dempsey stands at a height of 5 feet (179 cm) 10½ inches. Over the years, Dempsey has retained his slim build and transformed himself from a young college charmer of the 1980s to a true Hollywood high-flyer. His body measurements are 99-38-31 cm (39-15-32 inches). Grey’s Anatomy star also maintains his body weight at 77 kg (170 lb).
