Born:
January 13, 1966
in
Lewiston, Maine
Best Known For:
Grey's Anatomy.
Early-life:
Patrick Galen Dempsey was born on January 13, 1966, in Lewiston, Maine. He grew up in Buckfield, and attended the local high school. As a teenager, Patrick dreamed of being a circus performer and hoped to attend Clown College after coming third for his age group at a National Jugglers' competition. However, he moved into acting, and won a few small parts in films including Heaven Help Us and Meatballs III: Summer Job.
Career:
Dempsey became a teen mag favourite when he starred in Can't Buy Me Love in 1987 as Ronald, a nerd who pays a popular cheerleader to go out with him. He won a Young Artist Award for the role, which led to parts in movies including In a Shallow Grave and Loverboy. However, his career went into a downward spiral, and many of his films, including Run and Face the Music, were box-office flops. A range of TV movies followed, and he appeared opposite Dustin Hoffman in 1995's Outbreak. After starring in Scream 3, Dempsey's popularity increased again, and he has since been seen in Will & Grace and Sweet Home Alabama. He currently stars as Dr Derek Shepherd in medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Though he had a box-office hit with family film Enchanted in 2007, Made of Honor, released in 2010, was less well received.
Quote:
On why he hated going to the cinema during his career drought: "I'd come in with this bitter attitude. It's not an escape, because I feel this disappointment, this jealousy."
Trivia:
He has a vintage car collection.