Patrick Dempsey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick Dempsey
Dempsey in 2016
Born	Patrick Galen Dempsey (1966-01-13) January 13, 1966 (age 59) Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
Occupation	Actor racecar driver
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Rocky Parker ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1994)​ Jillian Fink ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	3
United SportsCar Championship career
Debut season	2014
Current team	Dempsey Racing
Racing licence	FIA Bronze
Car no.	27
Wins	2
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	18th in 2014
Finished last season	18th
Previous series
2007–2013 2012–2013 2010–2012	Rolex Sports Car Series American Le Mans Series Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	2009 2013–2015
Teams	Advanced Engineering Team Seattle Dempsey Racing
Best finish	22nd (2nd in class)(2015)

Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and a skilled race car driver. Many people know him as Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd from the popular TV show Grey's Anatomy. He also starred in fun movies like Enchanted (2007). Patrick Dempsey has been nominated for big awards like the Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Awards. In 2023, People magazine even named him their "Man Alive"!

Patrick Dempsey started his acting journey in films such as Can't Buy Me Love (1987) and Loverboy (1989). He has also appeared in many romantic comedies like Sweet Home Alabama (2002) and Made of Honor (2008). Besides comedies, he has taken on serious roles in movies like Outbreak (1995) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). He even produced and starred in films such as Flypaper (2011).

When he's not acting, Patrick Dempsey loves auto racing. He has a collection of cool sports cars and vintage cars. He has competed in famous races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He once said he would "walk away" from acting to race full-time if he could!

Early Life and Juggling Talents

Patrick Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine. He grew up in nearby towns called Turner and Buckfield. His mother was a school secretary, and his father sold insurance. He has two older sisters and a half-brother.

As a young boy, Patrick went to Buckfield High School and St. Dominic Regional High School. Later, he moved to Houston and attended Willowridge High School.

When he was younger, Patrick Dempsey was very good at juggling. In 1981, he came in second place at a big juggling competition called the International Jugglers' Association Championship. He was just behind Anthony Gatto, who is known as one of the best jugglers ever!

Patrick found out he had dyslexia when he was 12 years old. Dyslexia is a learning difference that can make reading and writing tricky. He told an interviewer that he believes dyslexia helped him become who he is today. He said it taught him to "keep working" and "never give up."

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out: Early Roles (1984–1989)

Patrick Dempsey's acting career began when he was invited to try out for a play called Torch Song Trilogy. He got the part and spent four months touring with the show. After that, he toured with another play, Brighton Beach Memoirs, where he played the main character. He also appeared in other plays like On Golden Pond.

His first big movie role was in In The Mood when he was 21. He then starred in teen comedies that made him famous, like Can't Buy Me Love (1987) with Amanda Peterson. He also appeared in Some Girls (1988) and had lead roles in Loverboy and Happy Together in 1989.

Becoming a Known Actor (1990–2004)

Patrick Dempsey at the 80th Academy Awards

In the 1990s, Patrick Dempsey appeared in many TV shows. He often got lead roles in pilot episodes for new shows, even if they didn't get picked up for a full season. He played the real-life mob boss, Meyer Lansky, in the 1991 movie Mobsters, which got good reviews.

He had a memorable role in Will & Grace for three episodes. He also appeared in four episodes of Once & Again as Aaron Brooks, a character with schizophrenia. This role earned him an Emmy Award nomination in 2001. In 1993, he played a young John F. Kennedy in a TV mini-series. He also played Detective Kincaid in the horror film Scream 3 in 2000.

In 2002, Dempsey had a big role as the fiancé of Reese Witherspoon's character in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. In 2004, he co-starred in the acclaimed HBO production Iron Jawed Angels.

Grey's Anatomy Stardom (2005–2015)

Patrick Dempsey became very famous for his role as Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. He starred alongside Ellen Pompeo. Before getting this role, he also tried out for a part in another medical show, House. His character's relationship with Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo) on Grey's Anatomy was very popular with fans. He also appeared in two episodes of the Grey's spin-off show Private Practice.

In 2007, Dempsey starred in the Disney movie Enchanted and the film Freedom Writers. He also lent his voice to the character Kenai in the sequel Brother Bear 2. Later, he starred in the 2008 film Made of Honor and the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine's Day. In 2011, he played Dylan Gould in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

In 2014, he signed a contract to stay on Grey's Anatomy for more seasons. He was nominated for a Best Actor award in 2006 for his role in the show. His success on Grey's Anatomy also led him to become a spokesperson for companies like Mazda. In 2020, he made a surprise return as Dr. Derek Shepherd at the start of the show's 17th season, even though his character had passed away in 2015.

Recent Projects (2016–Present)

After leaving Grey's Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey continued to work on new projects. In 2016, he starred in the movie Bridget Jones's Baby with Renée Zellweger. In 2018, he appeared in the TV miniseries The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair.

He also took part in the short film Red Nose Day Actually in 2017, which was a sequel to the romantic comedy Love Actually. Since 2020, he has played Harry Morgan in the financial thriller series Devils. In 2021, it was announced that he would return for the Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted, which was released in 2022 on Disney+. In 2023, he played Sheriff Eric Newlon in the slasher film Thanksgiving and Piero Taruffi in the movie Ferrari.

Auto Racing Passion

Patrick Dempsey at the 2008 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

Patrick Dempsey loves auto racing in his free time. He has a large collection of sports cars and vintage cars. In 2014, he shared that racing wasn't just a hobby for him; it had become a big part of who he is. He said he couldn't imagine not racing and that it keeps him motivated every day.

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

He has competed in famous races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He also raced in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race. He used to be a co-owner of an IndyCar Series team called Vision Racing. Now, he owns Dempsey Racing, which races Porsche 911 GT America cars in the Tudor United Sports Car Series. He races as much as his acting schedule allows.

In 2009, he raced a Ferrari F430 GT in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished ninth in his class. In 2011, he finished third in the GT Class of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 2012, he formed his own team, Dempsey Racing, to compete in the American Le Mans Series.

After his first race at Le Mans in 2009, Dempsey returned in 2013 and competed in a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR. He and his teammates finished 29th overall and fourth in their class. In 2015, Dempsey focused on racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with his Dempsey Racing-Proton team. He told Porsche Newsroom that while his TV work doesn't change much, everything in motor racing changes constantly, "every lap, every bend and every moment."

Other Activities

Promoting Brands

Patrick Dempsey has been the face of well-known brands like L'Oréal and Versace. He also appeared in ads for Serengeti sunglasses. In 2008, he launched his own fragrance called Unscripted, and a second one, Patrick Dempsey 2, in 2009. This second fragrance won an award in 2010. In 2012, he was featured in an advertising campaign for a Mexican cable company.

Since 2013, Patrick Dempsey has promoted eyewear from Austria for the brand Silhouette. In 2017, he appeared in Italian commercials for Vodafone Italy. In 2018, he even designed a clothing line for a fashion brand called Bleusalt.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Patrick Dempsey's mother, Amanda, battled cancer five times before she passed away in 2014. Because of her experience, Patrick helped create the Patrick Dempsey Center at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. This center helps people affected by cancer.

In October 2009, Patrick started an event called the Dempsey Challenge. It's a fundraiser where people cycle, run, and walk to raise money for the cancer center. The first event raised over $1 million! His mother was there to cheer him on as he finished his 50-mile ride. The Dempsey Challenge is now an annual event held every October.

For his charity work, Patrick Dempsey has received special honors. In 2013, Bowdoin College gave him an honorary doctorate. In 2017, he received another honorary doctorate from Bates College in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine, for his efforts in funding the Dempsey Center.

In 2023, Patrick Dempsey helped raise money for families affected by the 2023 Lewiston shootings. He joined a charity softball tournament to support the community.

Personal Life

As mentioned earlier, Patrick Dempsey was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 12. Because of this, he has to memorize all his lines for acting roles, even for auditions.

Entertainment Weekly magazine once praised Patrick Dempsey's hair, calling it "impossibly luxurious."

Patrick Dempsey has been married twice. His first marriage was to Rochelle "Rocky" Parker in 1987. They divorced in 1994. In 1999, he married makeup artist Jillian Fink. They have three children together. In 2015, Jillian filed for divorce, but they later decided to stay together and called off the divorce in 2016.

Patrick Dempsey used to own a home in Harpswell, Maine, close to where he grew up. He is also a fan of the Scottish football club Rangers F.C. because of his Scottish family connections.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Recognitions

Patrick Dempsey has received many awards and nominations for his acting.

• In 2022, Patrick Dempsey was honored with a Disney Legend Award.

Images for kids

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  Patrick Dempsey at the 2008 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona race.

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  Patrick Dempsey waving to the crowd at the 2015 Indianapolis 500.

See also

In Spanish: Patrick Dempsey para niños