They called him McDreamy.
But now they can call him the McDreamiest of them all!
On Tuesday night, Patrick Dempsey was named Sexiest Man Alive, an accolade that many Grey’s Anatomy fans in particular think he should have earned many years ago.
The announcement was made on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“I’m just happy that they made a decision and that it was me this year,” Dempsey told the host during his interview, later joking about the iconic cover photo shoot:
“I fasted and went to the gym.”
Dempsey has been included in this same issue of People Magazine several times in the past; receive an honorary mention, basically.
But now he’s finally won one of the highest honors in all of Hollywood.
“I’m happy that this is happening at this point in my life,” the 57-year-old told the publication itself.
“It’s nice to have that recognition, and my ego definitely takes a little hit, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”
Dempsey, of course, broke into acting in the 1980s, starring in films such as Can’t Buy Me Love and Some Girls at the time.
However, he really hit it big playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, helping anchor the ABC medical drama from 2005 to 2015.
Away from the camera, Dempsey became known both for his love of motorsports and also for founding the Dempsey Center, which he founded in honor of his late mother to support cancer patients and their loved ones .
As for what came to his mind when he first heard the news about the Sexiest Man Alive?
“I was completely shocked, then I started laughing, it’s a joke, isn’t it? I was always the maid of honor! he told the magazinelaughing.
Dempsey shares daughter Talula, 21, and twins Darby and Sullivan, 16, with wife Jillian Fink.
He said in his People article that the kids are going to keep him humble because they “are just going to make fun of me and pick on me and come up with all the reasons why I shouldn’t be, adding:
“Which is nice, they keep me young.”
In October 2021, Dempsey was accused of toxic behavior on the set of Grey’s Anatomy, with insiders saying he made it VERY clear towards the end of his time on that show that he was no longer happy with the role.
Dempsey succeeds the title of sexiest man alive, dethroned by Chris Evans in 2002.
Recent past winners include:
Paul Rudd (2021), Michael B. Jordan (2020), John Legend (2019), Idris Elba (2018), Blake Shelton (2017), Dwayne Johnson (2016).