Patrick Dempsey
Biography
Patrick Galen Dempsey, born January 13 1966 in Lewiston Maine, USA, is an American male actor and race‑car driver. He is best known for portraying neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on the television series Grey’s Anatomy. Dempsey achieved early film success in the 1980s, starring in Can’t Buy Me Love (1987) and Loverboy (1989). During the 1990s he appeared in smaller film roles, including Outbreak (1995), and continued work in television. He played Detective Mark Kincaid in Scream 3 (2000) and secured a lead role in the box‑office hit Sweet Home Alabama (2002). Subsequent credits include Brother Bear 2 (2006), Enchanted (2007) and Made of Hono projects.
Career overview
Patrick Galen Dempsey, born on January 13, 1966, in Lewiston, Maine, is an American actor who has also pursued a career as a race car driver. He first achieved notable recognition in the 1980s, starring in films such as Can't Buy Me Love (1987) and Loverboy (1989). During the 1990s, Dempsey’s work shifted toward smaller film roles, including a part in Outbreak (1995), while he continued to appear on television. He returned to a higher‑profile film role in Scream 3 (2000), portraying Detective Mark Kincaid.
Dempsey’s most widely recognized television work is his long‑running portrayal of neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on the series Grey’s Anatomy. In 2002 he secured a leading role in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama, which was described as a surprise box‑office hit. Following that success, he appeared in a variety of later projects, including the animated sequel Brother Bear 2 (2006) and the fantasy musical Enchanted (2007). His career thus spans early teen‑oriented comedies, supporting parts in major studio releases, a prominent television medical drama, and continued work in both live‑action and animated films.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Memory of a Killer (2026) as Angelo Doyle
- Threshold (2026) Executive Producer
- Destined to Drive: Patrick Dempsey's Return to Racing (2025) as Self
- Dexter: Original Sin (2024) as Aaron Spencer
- Thanksgiving (2023) as Sheriff Eric Newlon
- Ferrari (2023) as Piero Taruffi
- Disney 100: Remember That (2023) as Self
- Racing With Giants: Porsche at Le Mans (2023) as Self
- Disenchanted (2022) as Robert Philip
- Mostra, Venise (2022) as Self
- SurrealEstate (2021) as Tom Quincy
- Alumination (2021) as Self
- Devils (2020) as Dominic Morgan
- The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019) Producer
- Hurley (2019) as Self
- Hurley (2019) Producer
- The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (2018) as Harry Quebert
- Red Nose Day Actually (2017) as (US version)
- Bridget Jones's Baby (2016) as Jack
- Jay Leno's Garage (2015) as Self
- Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman (2015) as Self
- We Are Racers (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Car Matchmaker with Spike Feresten (2014) as Self
- Sports Insiders on 24 Hours of Le Mans (2014) as Self
- Patrick Dempsey: Racing LeMans (2013) as Self
- Ushi Must Marry (2013) as Self
- The Jonathan Ross Show (2011) as Self
- Flypaper (2011) as Tripp
- Flypaper (2011) Producer
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) as Dylan
- Boys of Bonneville (2011) as Narrator (voice)
- Valentine's Day (2010) as Harrison Copeland
- Made of Honor (2008) as Tom
- Private Practice (2007) as Dr. Derek Shepherd
- Enchanted (2007) as Robert Philip
- Freedom Writers (2007) as Scott Casey
- 24 x 24: Wide Open with Jeff Gordon (2007) as Self - Host
- El hormiguero (2006) as Self - Guest
- Brother Bear 2 (2006) as Kenai (voice)
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Derek Shepherd
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- Iron Jawed Angels (2004) as Ben Weissman
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Karen Sisco (2003)
- Lucky 7 (2003) as Peter Connor
- Top Gear (2002) as Self
- Sweet Home Alabama (2002) as Andrew Hennings
- The Emperor's Club (2002) as Older Louis Masoudi
- The Caroline Rhea Show (2002)
- Revealed with Jules Asner (2001)
- Blonde (2001) as Cass
- Scream 3 (2000) as Mark Kincaid
- Family Guy (1999) as Patrick Dempsey (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as (voice)
- Once and Again (1999)
- Me and Will (1999) as Fast Eddie
- Will & Grace (1998) as Matthew
- The Treat (1998) as Mike
- Jeremiah (1998) as Jeremiah
- Crime and Punishment (1998) as Rodya Raskolnikov
- Ava's Magical Adventure (1998) as Jeffrey
- Ava's Magical Adventure (1998) Director
- There's No Fish Food in Heaven (1998) as The Stranger
- Denial (1998) as Sam
- The Escape (1998) as Clayton
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Practice (1997) as Dr. Paul Stewart
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997) as Pierre Arronax
- Hugo Pool (1997) as Floyd Gaylen
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- A Season in Purgatory (1996) as Harrison Burns
- A Season in Purgatory (1996) as Harrison Burns
- The Right to Remain Silent (1996) as Tom Harris
- Outbreak (1995) as Jimbo Scott
- Bloodknot (1995) as Tom
- With Honors (1994) as Everett Calloway
- JFK: Reckless Youth (1993) as John F. Kennedy
- Face the Music (1993) as Charlie Hunter
- Bank Robber (1993) as Billy
- For Better and for Worse (1993) as Robert Faldo
- Morgenmagazin (1992) as Self
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- Run (1991) as Charlie Farrow
- The General Motors Playwrights Theater (1991) as James
- Mobsters (1991) as Meyer Lansky
- The Word (1990)
- Coupe de Ville (1990) as Robert 'Bobby' Libner
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989) as The Plant
- Happy Together (1989) as Chris Wooden
- Loverboy (1989) as Randy Bodek
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Some Girls (1988) as Michael
- In a Shallow Grave (1988) as Potter Daventry
- Out of This World (1987) Associate Producer
- Can't Buy Me Love (1987) as Ronald Miller
- In the Mood (1987) as Ellsworth "Sonny" Wisecarver
- Fast Times (1986) as Mike Damone
- Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986) as Rudy
- A Fighting Choice (1986) as Kellin Taylor
- The Stuff (1985) as Underground Stuff Buyer (uncredited)
- Heaven Help Us (1985) as Corbet
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as Self
- American Playhouse (1982) as Potter Daventry
- Entertainment Tonight (1981)
- Nightline (1980)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Household Guide to Dying