American actor Patrick Dempsey, best known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd in the television series Grey’s Anatomy, has been named 2023’s “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine on 7 November.
In an interview posted on the People YouTube Channel, Dempsey describes his reaction to the news: “I was completely shocked, and then I laughed, and I was like you’re kidding me, this is a joke right?” He explains how he has been the “bridesmaid” for the “Sexiest Man Alive” cover ten times, and finally gets the big picture on the magazine instead of the little picture on the side which features other popular men.
Patrick Dempsey was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 12, which wore away his confidence and self-esteem due to his struggles with studies at school. He eventually found new ways of expressing himself, through sports and acting, which helped him build his identity. Added to that, the new title of “Sexiest Man Alive” gives his ego “a nice little bump”.
Dempsey also takes this opportunity to talk about something positive on the platform; his non-profit organization called the Dempsey Center, which provides personalized and comprehensive cancer care to patients at no cost.
The 57-year-old also takes time to talk about his wife and children, and the new chapters that are to come in his life, such as his role in the upcoming biographical sports drama film Ferrari.
Who is Patrick Dempsey?
Patrick Galen Dempsey, famous American actor and racing driver, is best known for his role as Derek Christopher Shepherd in the medical drama television series Grey’s Anatomy, and as Robert Philip in Disney’s romantic comedy films Enchanted (2007) and its sequel Disenchanted (2022).
After his breakthrough as the protagonist Ronald Miller in the 1987 American teen romantic comedy Can’t Buy Me Love, Dempsey has starred in a slew of successful films like Scream 3 (2000), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Valentine’s Day (2010), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016).
Throughout his acting career, he received three People’s Choice Awards and was honored with the Disney Legend Award in 2022, along with nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Racing, Acting and Philanthropy
Patrick Dempsey’s fascination with motorsports started at a really young age as his father, a big racing fan, used to bring home matchbox cars on Friday nights. He now maintains a sports car and vintage car collection and has also competed in several sporting events such as 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the Baja 1000 off-road race. “I like the camaraderie, the fellowship, the teamwork”, says Dempsey in the recent interview with People magazine.
To combine his two greatest passions of acting and racing, Dempsey remembers calling up film director Michael Mann and securing a part in the new biopic Ferrari. He plays the role of Piero Taruffi, the Italian Formula One racing driver who won the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix and the 1957 Mille Miglia, and the film is set to release worldwide on 25 December 2023.
Patrick Dempsey, in his interviews on the People YouTube channel and Jimmy Kimmel Live, also talks at length about his non-profit cancer care organization The Dempsey Center. His mother Amanda Dempsey was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997 and over the next 17 years had 12 recurrences.
To honor her struggles with cancer, Dempsey established the Dempsey Center in Lewiston, Maine in 2008 which aims to help not only the patients, but also the caregivers in every way possible. “We don’t treat the disease, we treat the person holistically”, says Dempsey on Jimmy Kimmel Live, explaining that this method of treatment is called “wraparound care”.
He also talks at length about his wife Jillian Fink, 57-year-old makeup artist and founder of her own clean beauty line, and how “She has always inspired me to keep going and working hard” and their kids Talula, 21, and 16-year-old twins Sullivan and Darby: “They keep me young”.
