Patrick Dempsey, the celebrated star of the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy, has publicly disclosed the reasons behind his decision to leave the show after nearly a decade. Dempsey, now 60 years old, portrayed the beloved character Dr. Derek Shepherd, affectionately nicknamed "McDreamy" by fans, from the series' inception in 2005 until his departure in 2015 during its eleventh season.
Pursuing a Passion for Racing
In a candid interview on ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show, Dempsey explained that his exit was driven by a desire to focus on his true passion: motorsport. He stated, "It was time to walk away. I had the opportunity to do a full season in the WEC, which is the (FIA) World Endurance Championship. That was my love." Following his departure, Dempsey competed in the international sportscar racing competition, achieving a notable victory by securing first place in a six-hour endurance race held in Japan.
Reflecting on the Show's Impact
Despite leaving the Emmy-winning series, Dempsey expressed gratitude for the platform it provided. He remarked, "For me, it's been a blessing. It's given me a wonderful platform. I think the best thing that has come out of it is that a lot of young people have gone into the medical profession because of it – I think that's a great thing." The show, which chronicles the lives of surgical interns and supervisors at Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, has inspired many viewers to pursue careers in healthcare.
Charity Work and Personal Life
Dempsey also highlighted how the popularity of Grey's Anatomy aided his philanthropic efforts. He founded The Dempsey Centre, a cancer treatment facility in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine, which offers free holistic care including nutritional support, counselling, fitness classes, and integrative therapies. He shared, "It was inspired by my own mother's cancer journey – she had ovarian cancer over 12 recurrences. We don't treat the disease, we treat the person holistically, and the visibility of the show helped me do that."
In his personal life, Dempsey has made efforts to shield his children from the show, describing them as "very direct" with their opinions. He said, "I didn't really expose them to the show. I kept them as far away as possible." Additionally, he reflected on being named "sexiest man alive" by People magazine in 2023, calling it "quite a shock" at his age.
Career Beyond Grey's Anatomy
Known for his roles as a heartthrob in romantic comedies such as Enchanted (2007), Made Of Honor (2008), and Bridget Jones' Baby (2016), Dempsey has continued to diversify his acting portfolio. He currently stars in the new US crime drama Memory Of A Killer, where he portrays a character leading a double life as a family man and a hit-man.
The Jonathan Ross Show, featuring Dempsey alongside guests like Danny and Dani Dyer, Self Esteem, and Jack Whitehall, airs on Saturday at 9.25pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
