Patrick Dempsey - Patrick Dempsey Appreciation Thread #1: Because he's McDreamy!

thegreenlight · 07-31-2006, 08:42 PM

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Born on the 13th of January 1966 in Lewiston, Maine and the youngest of three children, the Irish-American Patrick Dempsey showed he had incredible talent from an early age. A born performer from the beginning, at the tender age of 7, Patrick attended dancing classes where he proceeded to get kicked out for talking and flirting too much! At the age of 12, they discovered he suffered from dyslexia, he overcame it and now he attributes his strengthened professionalism and drive.

When he was 15 he developed his own act and toured the New England Vaudeville Circuit as a juggler, unicyclist, comedian and magician. He also went on to win the State of Maine Downhill Racing competition, and came second in a International Juggling event. As any true fan will know, Patrick often employed his skills in his varied movie roles over the years, especially his dancing techniques. In 1981 he also won a Talent America Contest, it was clear from the start that he had enough determination to make it big.

He got his chance to shine when he was spotted by an agent and invited to audition for the role of 'David' in the stage production of Torch Song Trilogy. After winning the role Patrick spent the next four months touring with the company in San Francisco. He followed this with another tour, Brighton Beach Memoirs, in the lead role which was directed by Gene Saks. Dempsey also made notable appearances in the stage productions of On Golden Pond and The Subject was Roses which was at the Roundabout Theatre in New York.

In the teen sex comedy Meatballs 3, he landed the role of Rudy a 14 year old virgin desperate to lose his virginity. Although this received terrible reviews, it still managed to raise more than a few laughs and be thoroughly entertaining. His big break into the movies came in 1985 when he was cast opposite Andrew McCarthy and Kevin Dillon in his big screen debut Catholic Boys as Corbet. Although his role was small he still managed to make an impression and get noticed.

He went on to star in the Disney TV Movie A Fighting Choice with Beau Bridges, portraying a young boy with epilepsy. Dempsey's portrayal was so convincing that he won a special award from the Epilepsy Foundation. This was followed by a TV Series of the hit film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Unfortunately this was reportedly a flop, but it was a important learning experience for Patrick.

In the Mood, Patrick's next film gained much more favourable reviews and won the hearts of critics everywhere who quoted his performance as being wonderfully naive. Dempsey played the role of real life womanizer Sonny Ellsworth Wisecarver who at the age of 15 courted two older women, even going on to marry one. This was to reflect on Patrick's private life, when at the age of 21 he married his manager at the time Rocky Parker who was 48 years old. Parker even made a cameo appearance in In the Mood as a screaming woman on the train. Their marriage sadly was to ended in divorce.

Cant Buy Me Love is undoubtedly a favourite with Patrick's fans. Starring opposite Amanda Petersen as the Nerd who offers her $1,000 for her to pose as his girlfriend for a month, he captured the hearts of women everywhere and discovered a whole new legion of fans.

He seems to be settled in his private life as he got married to Jillian Fink, who is a make up artist with her own company called Delux Beauty, on July 31, 1999. He also became a father for the first time in January 2002 when his wife gave birth to their daughter, Tallulah.

He has starred in the successful horror trilogy Scream 3 along with Neve Campbell and has made several guest appearances in the popular tv shows Once and Again for which he was nominated for a emmy and Will & Grace. Patrick also played Reese Witherspoon's fiancé in Sweet Home Alabama in 2002.

In 2005, he finally got the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd, a brillant surgeon, in the hit show Grey's Anatomy created by Shonda Rhimes.

I think we should just have a general appreciation thread for him as well.

So... I really love that he's finally getting recognised for great work after his ten year drought. His older projects may not have been very popular, but his acting was still amazing.

Merlin_Bodhi · 07-31-2006, 09:39 PM

Why would we need a general appreciation thread? We have a BOARD now!!

**shinystar** · 08-01-2006, 01:23 AM

Great idea Lis... Just to appreciate who Patrick is as a person

I'm glad his comeback was really succesfull... He deserves it, he's a great actor even though he has dyslexia (?).. The minute I learned about that little fact, my respect for him grew instantly

thegreenlight · 08-01-2006, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinystar

He deserves it, he's a great actor even though he has dyslexia (?).. The minute I learned about that little fact, my respect for him grew instantly

I totally agree. It must be pretty hard at times because he has to memorise everything, but he does a great job.

mcdreamylover · 08-01-2006, 06:55 AM

You can never have too many PD appreciation threads!

thegreenlight · 08-01-2006, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdreamylover

You can never have too many PD appreciation threads!

Yeah, and I think like Karen said, it's good to have a thread where you can just appreciate him.

Beatriz · 08-01-2006, 10:33 AM

I haven't seen him in many interviews yet, but he seems to be a very serious person when it comes to his family and career, and Ilike that. I've also seen him interacting with co-stars and he seems to be also a funny guy. I like that

I mean, ppl who knows when to be serious and ppl who knows when to goof around.

thegreenlight · 08-01-2006, 10:50 AM

I agree, Bea.

And, I also love how he's comfortable with his sexuality and isn't afraid to express himself that way. I can relate to him with the whole conservative family thing, so I'm glad he doesn't have a problem talking about sex or anything related.

**shinystar** · 08-01-2006, 03:01 PM

Patrick seems like a very open person, willing to share a lot but he does have his boundaries

and from interviews I've read and clips I've seen Patrick really seems like a funny guy...

In interviews he sometimes has the best responses to certain questions.. Can't think of something out of the top of my head though.. I'll get back with you guys on that

thegreenlight · 08-01-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinystar

Patrick seems like a very open person, willing to share a lot but he does have his boundaries

Yeah, I agree.

Quote:

In interviews he sometimes has the best responses to certain questions..

Yeah, definitely. His responses are always slightly philosophical in some way.

**shinystar** · 08-01-2006, 04:29 PM

I love his responses... For example this one:

Quote:

For what role are you most recognised?
The anteater ritual dance in Can't Buy Me Love. Paula Abdul choreographed that. 'm going on the next American Idol to start my singing career.

Funny

thegreenlight · 08-01-2006, 04:33 PM

I want to her him sing. I feel like he would have a decent singing voice.. 'cause of doing theatre... it just seems natural that he'd be able to sing.

**shinystar** · 08-01-2006, 04:35 PM

I am curious about his singing voice... Who knows, maybe they'll let him sing on Grey's... They let Isaiah play his instruments, why don't they let Patrick sing or race a car

thegreenlight · 08-01-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinystar

Who knows, maybe they'll let him sing on Grey's... They let Isaiah play his instruments, why don't they let Patrick sing or race a car

He can serenade Meredith with a McDreamy love ballad.

**shinystar** · 08-01-2006, 04:41 PM

Does he play a guitare because that would make it a perfect moment