Patrick Dempsey took a back seat, but still enjoyed a world-class view from a parade route in Le Mans, France, on Friday. The Grey's Anatomy star, who says his dream is to take his kids racing one day, was in town for the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race ...
If Patrick Dempsey has his way, he'll add bus driver to his résumé.
"I'd love to have a nice bus so I could bring my kids racing with me," the Grey's Anatomy star, 43, told People magazine after a qualifying run in his Mazda RX-8 for Friday's Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in Watkins Glen, N.Y., where he spent a weekend behind the wheel.
For the actor – who qualified for Saturday's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at position No. 9, the best in his racing career – balancing his passions with his family duties.
Patrick Dempsey has a daughter Talula, 7, and 2-year-old twin sons Darby and Sullivan with makeup-artist wife Jillian, who he wed in 1999. He calls it a delicate balancing act.
"I would be so happy if they were with me when I race," says Dempsey. "The kids are young so I need to find a great furnished vehicle for all of us so they can be with me on the track."
Dempsey, who's traveling around the world to race – including next week's 24 Hours of Le Mans in France – on his summer break from filming Grey's Anatomy, likens racing to acting.
"I am very focused," he says. "I sit and wait for a race the same way I wait for a scene to be shot on TV or in film. I pace myself emotionally and calm down so when I am on, I am on."
When Grey's Anatomy is on break, Dempsey' life is totally devoted to his racing career, which often coincides with fund-raising for favorite charities like breast cancer.
"When I am not with the kids, I spend all of my off time from the show working toward improving my racing skills," he says. "I love it. I love the healthy competition."
Though his wife and children weren't with him at Saturday's race, the Maine native's mother, sister and other family members were on hand to cheer him on.
"I grew up ski-racing with my family and to them being here feels like I've come home," he says. "I am looking forward to the day my own kids can be at my side."
Despite being an advanced auto racer, McDreamy still pumps his own gas - would you expect any less? Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey was the picture of patience Monday afternoon as he waited for his ride to refuel at a Brentwood, Calif., gas station ...
We will truly never get our fill of Patrick Dempsey and his Grey's Anatomy character. Follow the link for our site's full gallery of old and new Patrick Dempsey pictures!
He's handsome even in his racing uniform ... or maybe especially in his racing uniform. Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey worked up a sweat at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Wednesday where he's set to take part in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series ...
His character, Dr. Derek Shepherd, certainly is going through some tough times.
In the video below, Patrick Dempsey chatted briefly with ABC about McDreamy's issues, as well as how he feels about the show's upcoming 100th episode (!) and where his character is headed next, whether he sees a marriage and baby (!!) in MerDer's future, and more ...
Looking sharp as always! His reeling Grey's Anatomy character, Dr. Derek Shepherd, may be a total basket case after his meltdown on last week's episode, but Patrick Dempsey still lives up to his McDreamy title, suiting up for a photo shoot in Los Angeles on Saturday...
TV Guide Canada refutes rumors spreading around the Internet that Patrick Dempsey was among the Grey's Anatomy cast members said to be looking to leave the show.
As if.
However, after his character, Dr. Derek Shepherd, had to deal with the loss of patient Jen [played by Jennifer Westfeldt], the final straw comes when the doctor known as McDreamy learns at a deposition that more of his patients have died than survived.
That sends the depressed surgeon over the edge, and Derek decides to quit Seattle Grace. While some subsequent headlines would have you believe Patrick Dempsey is leaving not just Seattle Grace, but the show itself, the actor just laughs it off.
“Derek goes off on a little bit of a soul-searching bender, and then comes out the other side with the help of his fellow surgeons,” reveals Dempsey. “My character does leave the hospital, but I’m not leaving the series. I’d be stupid to leave.”
Phew.
No breaking news here, Grey's Anatomy fans, just the show's leading man, Patrick Dempsey, on location filming upcoming episodes on Friday, February 20. It's a somewhat rare treat that we actually get to see photos of the cast filming outside, so enjoy!
Looks like a fairly relaxed day at the office as filming continues on the current Season Five of Grey's Anatomy. Click to enlarge more photos of McDreamy on the set ...
Taking a break from filming the show we all know and love, Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey pursued his #1 off-screen passion - auto racing! The actor took part in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
He came in at No. 35 - but he's 34 spots better in our minds!
For more of the show's leading man off the set of the medical drama, check out our gallery of Patrick Dempsey photos. If you prefer him in scrubs, we've got McDreamy pictures, as well!
Going for casual comfort (and still looking handsome as ever in doing so), Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey gets set to jet, hauling his own suitcase on Wednesday as he heads for the departure gates at Los Angeles International Airport...
"Stairway to Heaven"
Thursday, July 2, 9 p.m. (repeat, 5.12)
Season Six Premiere
Thursday, September 24, 9 p.m. (NEW, 6.1)
