Biography - Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey may be a talented and engaging actor, but these days it’s all about his more McDreamy qualities. As Dr. Derek Shepherd on ABC’s smash hit drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” Dempsey has found himself back in the spotlight in a major way. But unbeknownst to many rabid young “Grey’s” fans, Dempsey has been a star since the late 80s when he headlined a string of moderately successful romantic comedies.

Dempsey was born in the quiet town of Lewiston, Maine on January 13, 1966. He dropped out of high school before graduating, and as a teenager he was a nationally recognized juggler. He began acting in theatrical productions, most notably with touring versions of “Torch Song Trilogy” and the lead role in Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs.” Dempsey scored bit parts in film and television productions (like “Meatballs 3”) in the mid-80s, and quickly snagged two major lead roles, as ladykiller ‘Sonny’ Wisecarver in “In the Mood” and as a nerd looking to up his social status in “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Dempsey was an overnight star, and was soon headlining “In a Shallow Grave,” Michael Hoffman’s “Some Girls” (co-starring Jennifer Connelly), “Loverboy,” “Happy Together,” “Coupe de ville,” and a thriller with Kelly Preston, “Run.” Dempsey also starred with Christian Slater in “Mobsters,” and with Molly Ringwald in “Face the Music.”

Though Dempsey had meaty supporting roles in films like “Outbreak” and “With Honors” in the mid-90s, his career took a downturn around this time – Dempsey had a hard time landing major roles for ten years, and was cast in several television pilots that failed to garner network support. His return to prominence has been triumphant in recent years, first with a supporting turn in the hit Reese Witherspoon comedy “Sweet Home Alabama,” and in 2004 with an Emmy-nominated performance in the HBO movie “Iron Jawed Angels,” which also starred Anjelica Huston and Hilary Swank. Dempsey was primed for superstardom by the time “Grey’s Anatomy” began airing in 2005, and the firestorm of interest in that show’s cast still hasn’t let up. Dempsey’s sexy on-screen romance with Ellen Pompeo is one of the show’s hottest subplots, and his recent off-screen clash with co-star Isaiah Washington has him firmly in the spotlight. The red-hot actor, who recently turned 40, will soon appear with Hilary Swank in the promising drama “Freedom Writers.”