Patrick Dempsey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey cropped.jpg
Dempsey presenting Made of Honor in Madrid, 2008.
Born Patrick Galen Dempsey
(1966-01-13) January 13, 1966 (age 47)
Lewiston, Maine, United States
Residence Malibu, California, USA
Occupation Actor, Race car driver
Years active 1985–present
Spouse(s) Rocky Parker (1987–1994)
Jillian Fink (1999–present)
Children Tallulah Fyfe, Sullivan Patrick & Darby Galen

Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and race car driver, best known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd ("McDreamy") on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award. He has also appeared in several films, including Sweet Home Alabama, Made of Honor, Valentine's Day, Flypaper, Freedom Writers, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine, and grew up in Buckfield, Maine. His mother, Amanda (née Caisson), was a school secretary, and his father, William, was an insurance salesman.[1][2][3] He attended Buckfield High School and St. Dominic Regional High School.[4] He was an adept juggler, tying for second in a national juggling competition.[5] He was also an accomplished skier and while in high school won the Maine state slalom championship.

As a child, Dempsey attended Camp Wekeela located in Hartford, Maine.

Dempsey was diagnosed with dyslexia at age twelve. He told Barbara Walters on her 2008 Oscar special that he thinks dyslexia "made him what he is today." "It's given me a perspective of—you have to keep working," Dempsey told Walters. "I have never given up."[6]

Career [edit]

Early career [edit]

Dempsey was discovered by an invitation to audition for a role in the stage production of Torch Song Trilogy. His audition was successful, and he spent the following four months touring with the company in Philadelphia. He followed this with another tour, Brighton Beach Memoirs, in the lead role, which was directed by Gene Saks. Dempsey has also made notable appearances in the stage productions of On Golden Pond, with the Maine Acting Company, and as Timmy (the Martin Sheen role) in a 1990 Off-Broadway revival of The Subject Was Roses co-starring with John Mahoney and Dana Ivey at the Roundabout Theatre in New York

Dempsey's first major feature film role was at age 21 with Beverly D'Angelo in the movie In The Mood, the true World War II story about Ellsworth Wisecarver whose relationships with older married women created a national uproar. This was followed by the teen comedy Can't Buy Me Love in 1987 with actress Amanda Peterson and Some Girls with Jennifer Connelly in 1988. This film was a flop. In 1989, Dempsey had the lead role in the films Loverboy with actress Kirstie Alley and Happy Together with actress Helen Slater.

1990s and 2000s [edit]

Dempsey made a number of featured appearances in television in the 1990s; he was cast several times in pilots that were not picked up for a full season, including lead roles in the TV versions of the films The Player and About A Boy. However he received good reviews[7] as he portrayed real-life mob boss, Meyer Lansky in 1991, when Mobsters was put on the screen. His first major television role was a recurring role as Will's closeted sportscaster boyfriend on Will & Grace. He went on to play the role of Aaron Brooks, Lily & Judy's psychologically unbalanced brother, on Once & Again. Dempsey received an Emmy[8] nomination in 2001 as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role of Aaron. In 1993, he played a young John F. Kennedy in the 2-part TV mini-series JFK: Reckless Youth. In 2000, he also had a role as Detective Kincaid on Scream 3.

Dempsey had a high-profile role as the fiancé of Reese Witherspoon's character in Sweet Home Alabama. In 2004, he co-starred in the highly acclaimed HBO production Iron Jawed Angels, opposite Hilary Swank and Anjelica Huston. He also appeared as special guest star in The Practice for its 3-episode finale season (8x13-8x15), as a married man who murdered his lover.

In 2007, Dempsey starred in the Disney film Enchanted, and the Paramount Pictures film Freedom Writers where he reunited with his Iron Jawed Angels co-star Hilary Swank. He also voiced the character Kenai in Brother Bear 2. Dempsey's most recent roles include the 2008 film Made of Honor as Tom and the 2010s romantic comedy Valentine's Day; the latter film, directed by Garry Marshall, follows five interconnecting stories about Los Angelinos anticipating (or in some cases dreading) the holiday of love.[9]

Universal Pictures acquired the rights to the prize-winning novel The Art of Racing in the Rain in July 2009, for Dempsey to star in.[10] The project has not been able to find a director.[11] Dempsey starred as Dylan Gould in the 2011 movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon.[12][13]

On November 1, 2012, Deadline.com reported that Patrick Dempsey is set to star in the romantic comedy "Wonderful Tonight" playing opposite Amanda Seyfried.[14]

Grey's Anatomy [edit]

Main article: Grey's Anatomy

Dempsey has received significant public attention for his ongoing role as Dr. Derek Shepherd in the drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to landing the role of Derek Shepherd, Dempsey auditioned for the role of Dr. Gregory House on another medical show, House. Initially a midseason replacement, the show was well received and has become a highly rated program. Dempsey's character, Derek Shepherd is often referred to as "McDreamy" and has received press attention for his sex appeal, and his chemistry with Grey's Anatomy co-star Ellen Pompeo was well received by fans and critics. Dempsey also appeared in two episodes of the Grey's spinoff Private Practice, playing the same character as in Grey's Anatomy.[15]

Dempsey was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series–Drama at the 2006 Golden Globes for the role. His success on the show has led to his becoming a spokesman for Mazda and State Farm Insurance.

BuddyTV ranked him #1 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011".[16]

Other work [edit]

He has been the face of L'Oreal and Versace and was featured in ads for Serengeti sunglasses. In November 2008 he launched an Avon fragrance named Unscripted, and due to its success, a second fragrance named Patrick Dempsey 2 was launched in October 2009.[dated info] On September 29, 2012, Mexican cable company Cablemás, Megacable and Mexico city's Cablevisión launched an advertising campaign featuring Patrick Dempsey as the love interest of a domestic worker who comes across his profile on an online dating site.[17] Starting 2013, Patrick Dempsey is the face of Silhouette, promoting eyewear fashion from Austria.[18]

Race car driver [edit]

Dempsey at the 2008 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

Dempsey enjoys auto racing in his spare time, having competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race, and Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race. He was a co-owner of the Vision Racing IndyCar Series team and current owner of Dempsey Racing, which is presently racing two Mazda RX-8 cars in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT class. He participates in this series as often as his schedule allows, as he is unable to race while filming a movie due to insurance issues. In 2009, he raced a Team Seattle Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430 GT in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans's GT2 class, and finished ninth in class.[19]

Dempsey announced he would be in the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona along with other races throughout the season in a Mazda RX-8.[20] Dempsey finished in third place in the GT Class of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Dempsey race car in 2012

In 2012, Dempsey will compete in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Racing-Multimatic Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which, after 5 successful racing seasons in Europe, will be making its debut on American tracks.

Dempsey also formed the Dempsey Racing team which competes in the American Le Mans Series. The team fields a full-time Oreca FLM09 in the Prototype Challenge class as well as a Lola B12/80 coupe in the Prototype 2 class (with Patrick himself driving) from Laguna Seca onward.

Dempsey is also known to have a collection of sports and collector cars.

24 Hours of Le Mans results [edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2009 Italy Advanced Engineering
United States Team Seattle		 United States Don Kitch, Jr.
United States Joe Foster		 Ferrari F430 GT2 GT2 301 30th 9th

Tully's Coffee [edit]

In January 2013, Dempsey announced that his company had secured the winning bid to purchase Seattle-based Tully's Coffee, which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October. Dempsey's bid of $9.15M was enough to secure Tully's over the bids of six others including Starbucks. Dempsey's company will control 47 Tully's locations in the Seattle area, but not the online business which had been purchased by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in 2009.[21]

Personal life [edit]

Dempsey was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 12. As a result, it is necessary for him to memorize all his lines in order to perform, even for auditions where he was unlikely to get the part.[22][23]

Entertainment Weekly put Dempsey's hair on its end-of-the-decade "best-of" list, saying, "What made Grey's Anatomy a mega-medi-hit? It could have something to do with creator Shonda Rhimes' scalpel-sharp writing…or McDreamy's impossibly luxurious man hair. Just saying."[24] In 2005, People magazine ranked him second in its annual list of "Sexiest Men Alive"[25] and again in 2006.[26]

At a bankruptcy auction on January 3, 2013, an investment group led by Dempsey had the highest bid of US$9.15 million to buy Tully's Coffee. A bankruptcy court judge approved the deal at the end of January 2013.[27]

Marriages and family [edit]

Dempsey has been married twice. In 1987, he married actress and acting coach Rochelle "Rocky" Parker (born February 26, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York), who was also the mother of his best friend (Corey Parker) with an age gap of 26 years. She appeared with Dempsey in the film In the Mood. The couple divorced in 1994.

On July 31, 1999, Dempsey married Jillian Fink. The couple have three children, daughter Tallulah Fyfe (born February 20, 2002) and twins Sullivan Patrick and Darby Galen (born February 1, 2007).

Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing and Dempsey Challenge [edit]

In 1997, Dempsey's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her cancer has relapsed five times over the past fifteen years. In response to his mother's bouts with cancer, Dempsey helped start the Patrick Dempsey Center at Central Maine Medical Center in his home town of Lewiston, Maine. In October 2009 when Dempsey introduced the first Dempsey Challenge, registration was closed after reaching the goal of 3,500 cyclists, runners and walkers. The event raised more than $1 million for the cancer center. His mother was in the crowd as Dempsey finished his 50-mile ride.[28] The Challenge has since become an annual October event presented by Amgen in the Lewiston–Auburn area.[29]

Filmography [edit]

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1985 The Stuff Underground Stuff buyer #2
Heaven Help Us Corbet
1986 Meatballs III: Summer Job Rudy Gerner
1987 Can't Buy Me Love Ronald Miller Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy
In the Mood Ellsworth 'Sonny' Wisecarver
1988 Some Girls Michael
In a Shallow Grave Daventry Limited release
1989 Loverboy Randy Bodek
Happy Together Christopher Wooden
1990 Coupe de Ville Robert 'Bobby' Libner
1991 Mobsters Meyer Lansky
Run Charlie Farrow
1993 Bank Robber Billy
1994 With Honors Everett Calloway
Ava's Magical Adventure Jeffrey Also director
1995 Outbreak Jimbo Scott
1997 Hugo Pool Floyd Gaylen Limited release
1998 Denial Sam
The Treat Mike Jonathan Gems film
There's No Fish Food in Heaven The Stranger aka Life in the Fast Lane
1999 Me and Will Fast Eddie
2000 Scream 3 Det. Mark Kincaid
2002 Sweet Home Alabama Andrew Hennings
2003 Lucky 7 Peter Connor
The Emperor's Club Older Louis Masoudi
2004 Iron Jawed Angels Ben Weissman
2006 Brother Bear 2 Kenai Voice only
Shade Paul Parker Short film
2007 Freedom Writers Scott Casey
Enchanted Robert Philip Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (with Amy Adams)
2008 Made of Honor Tom Bailey
2010 Valentine's Day Harrison Copeland
Easy A Himself Archive footage; scene taken from Can't Buy Me Love
2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon Dylan Gould Nominated - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
Flypaper Tripp Also producer
2013 Ushi Must Marry Himself Movie from Dutch producers, but the movie itself is in English
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1986 A Fighting Choice Kellin Taylor TV movie
Fast Times Mike Damone Television series
1989 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The Plant 1 episode
1990 The General Motors Playwrights Theater 1 episode "Merry Christmas, Baby"
1993 For Better and for Worse Robert Faldo TV movie
JFK: Reckless Youth John F. Kennedy Miniseries
1995 Bloodknot Tom TV movie
1996 The Right to Remain Silent Tom Harris TV movie
A Season in Purgatory Harrison Burns Miniseries
1997 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Pierre Arronax Miniseries
The Escape Clayton TV movie
The Player Griffin Mill TV movie
1998 The Bible: Jeremiah Jeremiah TV movie
Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov
2000 Will and Grace Matthew 2000–2001 (3 episodes)
2000 Once and Again Aaron Brooks 2000–2002 (4 episodes)
Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Blonde Cass Miniseries
Karen Sisco Carl 1 episode
About a Boy Carl TV movie
2004 Iron Jawed Angels Ben Weissman TV movie
The Practice Dr. Paul Stewart 3 episodes
2005–present Grey's Anatomy Dr. Derek Shepherd 2005–present (185 episodes)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Drama Series (2006)
People's Choice Award for Favorite Male TV Star (2007, 2008)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (2005, 2006)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Drama Series (2006, 2008)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (2005)
Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Male TV Star (2009)
2009–2012 Private Practice Dr. Derek Shepherd TV episode ("The Ex-Life" and "You Break My Heart")

References [edit]

  1. ^ Shoard, Catherine (November 25, 2007). "Patrick Dempsey: the Doctor is in". The Daily Telegraph (London). 
  2. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (October 2, 1987). "NEW FACES; PATRICK DEMPSEY, 2 FILMS, 2 LOOKS". The New York Times. 
  3. ^ "Patrick Dempsey Biography (1956–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 
  4. ^ Dempsey Challenge website bio. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  5. ^ 1981 Juniors Championship of the International Jugglers' Association (IJA), http://www.juggle.org/history/champs/champs1981.php
  6. ^ "‘Grey’s Anatomy's’ Dempsey has dyslexia". MSN. 
  7. ^ Caryn james (July 26, 1991). "MOVIE REVIEW Mobsters (1991)". New York Times. 
  8. ^ Patrick Dempsey Emmy Winner
  9. ^ Matt Mitovich (8 July 2009). "Grey's Stars Dempsey and Dane Celebrate Valentine's Day". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2009-07-08. 
  10. ^ Fleming, Michael (July 15, 2009), "Dempsey shifts gears for Universal", Variety 
  11. ^ Boucher, Geoff (July 25, 2011), "Dempsey hopes to leave 'McDreamy' in rearview", Chicago Tribune 
  12. ^ "Patrick Dempsey & Transformers – McDreamy’s Transforming Role". National Ledger. May 6, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
  13. ^ "Patrick Dempsey: From McDreamy To ‘Transformers 3’". Access Hollywood. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 
  14. ^ http://www.deadline.com/2012/11/afm-amanda-seyfried-patrick-dempsey-join-wonderful-tonight/
  15. ^ "Greys Anatomy". Grey's Anatomy = ____. 
  16. ^ "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2011". BuddyTV. Retrieved March 9, 2012. 
  17. ^ "Galilea Montijo & Patrick Dempsey Film Commercial Together! - Terra USA". Entertainment.terra.com. June 20, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012. 
  18. ^ D'Allesandro, Stefania. "Good Eye", People, March 4, 2013, Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  19. ^ Leveridge, Adam (2009-04-01). "Gigawave replaced by SAE at Le Mans". Autosport.com. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 
  20. ^ Pettit, Vince (2010-12-01). "Patrick Dempsey Returns to Track". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 
  21. ^ "Patrick Dempsey: Winning bid for coffee-shop chain 'just felt right'". CNN. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013. 
  22. ^ USA WEEKEND Magazine[dead link]
  23. ^ Hitti, Miranda (2006-03-02). "Patrick Dempsey Reveals His Dyslexia". Webmd.com. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 
  24. ^ Geier, Thom, Jeff Jensen, Tina Jordan, Margaret Lyons, Adam Markovitz, Chris Nashawaty, Whitney Pastorek, Lynette Rice, Josh Rottenberg, Missy Schwartz, Michael Slezak, Dan Snierson, Tim Stack, Kate Stroup, Ken Tucker, Adam B. Vary, Simon Vozick-Levinson, and Kate Ward "100 Greatest Movies, TV Shows, and More: ... 69. Patrick Dempsey's hair", Entertainment Weekly, December 11, 2009, (1079/1080):74-84. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  25. ^ "The Sexiest Men Alive 2005 - Patrick Dempsey". People. November 15, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2012. 
  26. ^ "The Sexiest Men Alive 2006 - Patrick Dempsey". People. November 15, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2012. 
  27. ^ Allison, Melissa (January 3, 2013). "Patrick Dempsey, TV's "McDreamy," wins bid to buy Tully's". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-01-04. 
  28. ^ "Thousands Enjoy Dempsey Challenge". WMTW. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 
  29. ^ "The Dempsey Challenge". www.dempseychallenge.org. Retrieved 2011-04-22. 

External links [edit]
Authority control
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patrick_Dempsey&oldid=555522412"