They called him McDreamy.
But now they can call him the McDreamiest of all!
On Tuesday night, Patrick Dempsey was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, a distinction many Grey’s Anatomy fans especially believe he should have earned years ago.
The announcement was made on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“I’m just glad they made the decision and this year it was me,” Dempsey told the host during their sit-down interview, with Dempsey later joking about the iconic cover photo shoot:
“I fasted and went to the gym.”
Dempsey had been featured in the same issue of People magazine several times before; Basically receiving an honorable mention.
But now he’s finally earned one of the highest honors in all of Hollywood.
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” the 57-year-old himself told the publication.
“It’s nice to get recognition, and definitely blows my ego a little bit, but it gives me a platform to use it for something positive.”
Of course, Dempsey got into the acting business in the 1980s and starred in movies like Can’t Buy Me Love and Some Girls at the time.
However, he really made a huge impact as neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, and helped anchor the ABC medical drama from 2005 to 2015.
Away from the cameras, Dempsey is also known for his love of motorsports and the founding of the Dempsey Center, which he founded in honor of his late mother to support cancer patients and their loved ones.
What came to their mind when they first heard the news of the Sexiest Man Alive?
“I was completely shocked, and then I started laughing, like, this is a joke, right? I’ve always been a bridesmaid!” he told the magazine with a laugh.
Dempsey has 21-year-old daughter Talulah and 16-year-old twins Darby and Sullivan with his wife Jillian Fink.
He said in his People article that the kids would keep him humble because they would “just make fun of me and pick on me and find every reason why I shouldn’t do it,” adding:
“Which is good, they keep me young.”
In October 2021, Dempsey was accused of toxic behavior on the set of Grey’s Anatomy, with insiders indicating that he made it clear at the end of the series that he was no longer happy with the role.
Dempsey took over the title of People’s Sexiest Man Alive from 2002 recipient Chris Evans.
Previous recent winners include:
Paul Rudd (2021), Michael B. Jordan (2020), John Legend (2019), Idris Elba (2018), Blake Shelton (2017), Dwayne Johnson (2016).
