In 2005, ABC aired its new medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. It stars Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey, a surgical intern who is determined to prove that she is worthy of her last name. The show’s first episode also introduced viewers to Dr. Derek Shepherd, AKA Dr. McDreamy — one of Meredith’s attending physicians and her love interest.
Patrick Dempsey starred on the show for 16 seasons, leaving the show in 2021. During the time that he was on the show, Dempsey also appeared in the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, Private Practice.
Related: Grey’s Anatomy Stars Become Disney Legends
He also starred in the highly-loved 2007 Disney movie Enchanted, where he starred alongside Amy Adams. Dempsey played Robert Philip, a disillusioned divorce lawyer whose life is turned upside-down when he meets Giselle (Adams). Giselle claims to be from the kingdom of Andalasia, who needs to get back there, so she can marry Edward, a prince she has known for one day.
Related: Enchanted Actor Patrick Dempsey Releases Emotional Statement to Mass Shooting in Maine Hometown
For a long time, Enchanted was considered by many to be a very underrated Disney movie. Finally, in 2022, Disney made a sequel film, Disenchanted, which was released directly to Disney’s streaming service, Disney+.
And now, in addition to actor, Dempsey can add another title to his résumé — PEOPLE Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
Dempsey was interviewed as part of his new title and spoke about how excited he was to finally receive the honor.
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” the Maine native, 57, tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive…”
So what went through his mind when he first heard the news? “I was completely shocked, and then I started laughing, like, this is a joke, right? I’ve always been the bridesmaid!” he says, laughing.
“I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.”
Related: Disenchanted Actresses Make a Splash at Disneyland
Dempsey mentioned that some of the “good” he would use his new title to promote was the Dempsey Center. The Dempsey Center — which was founded by the actor — is a “Cancer Care & Support Center” located in Maine. The center’s website says that it provides “personalized care through counseling, support groups, nutrition, integrative therapies, movement and fitness, and more—at no cost.”
Dempsey founded the center in honor of his mother, Amanda, who was diagnosed with cancer and experienced several relapses. His mother passed away in 2014, in Dempsey’s home state of Maine.
Dempsey stars in the current holiday slasher movie, Thanksgiving, where he plays Sheriff Newlon. Newlon is the Sheriff of Plymouth, Massachusetts — the birthplace of Thanksgiving. After a Black Friday riot, the town tries to discover the identity of the person murdering people in the town as everyone tries to celebrate the holidays.
Later this year, Dempsey will also star in the film, Ferrari. Dempsey will play Piero Taruffi — an Italian racecar driver who is most well-known for winning the 1957 Mille Miglia — a cross-country sports race. Dempsey himself is an avid racing fan, owns a number of racecars, and even participates in auto races in his spare time.
Dempsey married his wife, Jillian Fink, in 1999. The two almost ended their marriage in 2015, but reconciled, and the divorce was called off. They share three children — Talula, who is 21, and 16-year-old-twins, Sullivan and Darby.
Past Sexiest Man Alive honors have been given to a number of Disney stars, including Chris Evans, Michael B Jordan, Paul Rudd, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, and Harrison Ford.
Are you excited that Patrick Dempsey was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive? Let us know in the comments!
