It’s been almost two decades sincePatrick Dempseysauntered onto the small screen as neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd onABC’sGrey’s Anatomy(even longer since his breakthrough role as an endearing outcast in 1987’sCan’t Buy Me Love).
His heartthrob status created such a fan frenzy that he graced the pages of this very issue countless times over the years. Now he’s taking home theSexiest Man Alivecrown.
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” the Maine native, 57, tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”
Closest to his heart isthe Dempsey Center, which he founded in honor of his late mom to support cancer patients and their loved ones.
Patrick Dempsey.Carter Smith
Carter Smith
So what went through his mind when he first heard the news? “I was completely shocked, and then I started laughing, like, this is a joke, right? I’ve always been the bridesmaid!” he says, laughing.
“I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.”
Patrick Dempsey on the cover of PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive 2023 issue.Carter Smith
As for how his kids will respond, Dempsey insists they’re “just going to make fun of me and pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be,” he says. “Which is good, they keep me young.”
In December he’ll show off his racing skills in theMichael Mann–directed biopicFerrari(which received an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA amid the actors' strike), playing Italian driver Piero Taruffi. The film taught him a lesson in risk-taking — but off the track.
“I’d been following the movie for years, so I called Michael and said, ‘I want to discuss being a part of this,’ ” Dempseyrecalls. “That taught me if you really want something, you have to do it yourself.”
For more on 2023’s Sexiest Man Alive, pick up this week’s issue ofPeople, on newsstands Friday.
Now the actor is learning that good things really do come to those who wait.
“I’ve got the bumper stickers, T-shirts, posters,” he jokes of his new title. Does this mean he’s peaked? “I peaked many years ago,” he says, laughing. “But I’m still here.”
Ferrariis in theaters Christmas Day. For more information on the Dempsey Center, visitdempseycenter.org.
source: people.com
