Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and race car driver. He is best known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy''. He had early success as an actor, starring in a number of films in the 1980s, including ''Can't Buy Me Love'' (1987) and '' Loverboy'' (1989).

In the 1990s, he mostly appeared in smaller roles in film, such as ''Outbreak'' (1995) and television. Dempsey was also in ''Scream 3'' (2000) where he played the role of Detective Mark Kincaid.

He was successful in landing a lead role in ''Sweet Home Alabama'' (2002), a surprise box office hit. He has since starred in other films, including ''Brother Bear 2'' (2006), '' Enchanted'' (2007), ''Made of Honor'' (2008), ''Valentine's Day'' (2010), '' Flypaper'' (2011), ''Freedom Writers'' (2007), '' Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' (2011), and ''Bridget Jones's Baby'' (2016).

Dempsey, who maintains a sports car and vintage car collection, also enjoys auto racing in his spare time. He has competed in pro-am events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race, and 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.

Early life

Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine, and grew up in the nearby towns of Turner and Buckfield. He has two older sisters and a half-brother, Shane Wray. His mother, Amanda (née Casson), was a school secretary, and his father, William, was an insurance salesman.

He attended Buckfield High School and St. Dominic Regional High School, and after moving to Houston attended Willowridge High School.

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.

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."

Acting career

Early career

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.

1990s and 2000s

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, 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 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''.

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).

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.

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. The film instead starred Milo Ventimiglia. He starred as Dylan Gould in '' Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' (2011).

''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. The relationship his character had with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) on screen has received a lot of praise and positive reactions.

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.

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. BuddyTV ranked him #1 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011."

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.

Further work

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:

In 2016, Dempsey starred in the Universal Pictures film ''Bridget Jones's Baby'' with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth, and in 2018 he appeared on Epix television miniseries ''The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair''.

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. 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. 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. The film was released on Disney+ in late 2022.

Auto racing

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."

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 otorsportsa 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.

He has competed in prestigious pro-am events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race, and 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.

Dempsey announced he would race the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona along with other races throughout the season in a Mazda RX-8.

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.

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.

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 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."

Racing record

Career summary

Not eligible for points.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete Rolex Sports Car Series results

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.

Complete Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge results

(key) (Results are overall/class)

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

Complete Maserati Trofeo World Series results

(key)

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

Complete American Le Mans Series results

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.

Complete United SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Results are overall/class)

Did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.

* Season still in progress.

Complete Porsche Supercup results

(key)

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

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Other ventures

Promotional work

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. The fragrance was recognized as the "Men's Private Label/Direct Sell" for the 2010 FiFi Awards. On September 29, 2012, Mexican cable company Cablemás, Megacable

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