Patrick Dempsey’s brief dating history explained after he called 26-year age gap relationship a ‘nightmare’

Patrick Dempsey is best known for playing neurosurgeon Dr Derek Shepherd, AKA 'McDreamy', in Grey's Anatomy.

The 60-year-old actor stepped into the heartthrob role from the medical drama's premiere in March 2005, all the way until April 2015.

And while his character's tumultuous romances became a key part of the TV show, a lot of people don't know about what's gone on in Dempsey's actual love life.

The star, who was named PEOPLE magazine's 'Sexiest Man Alive' in 2023, has actually been down the aisle twice - here's a brief history of his marriages.

In 1991, Dempsey tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend at the time, Rochelle 'Rocky' Parker, despite having quite a large age gap.

Parker had previously worked as an acting coach, and they'd first met seven years prior upon him being cast in a brand-new play when he was just 18.

Patrick Dempsey married his first wife Rochelle 'Rocky' Parker when he was 21 and she was 47 (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

Parker was a 44-year-old mother-of-three when the pair first met while working on a 1984 production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, in which they played aunt and nephew.

As per Hello! Magazine, a romance begin, and Dempsey also asked her to become his manager.

However, the celebrity couple reportedly kept their marriage a secret for two years due to the age gap.

They divorced after seven years of marriage in 1994, citing 'irreconcilable differences'.

Things took a shocking turn when Parker claimed Dempsey had assaulted her on the set of the 1987 movie Can't Buy Me Love.

However, she retracted the claims, stating she 'had been advised to make those accusations' while going through the divorce.

Dempsey has since addressed the marriage on numerous occasions, with pretty much nothing positive to say.

In a 2006 interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, he called their relationship a 'Freudian nightmare that is public knowledge'. Ouch.

The actor said at the time: "I think I needed a mother. There were a lot of negative things that I'm still undoing from it. She had a son one year older than me."

The Grey's Anatomy star went on to tie the knot with Jillian Fink, whom he's been married to for over 25 years (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images)

In 2014, Parker died after being diagnosed with lung and throat cancer, aged 74 years old.

Three years after his first divorce, Dempsey married his current wife, make-up artist Jillian Fink in July 1999 with whom he shares three children - Talula, Darby and Sullivan.

The couple have been going strong for more than 25 years and have celebrated many milestones together.

When Dempsey was named 'Sexiest Man Alive', Fink gushed on Instagram: "Well, the cat’s out of the bag for 2023 @people’s #SexiestManAlive and my hubz is on the cover! Loved being a part of this insanely fun ride with you @patrickdempsey. What a title! You truly are my sexiest man alive."

While celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in July 2024, Dempsey wrote on social media: "Life would not be the same without you, your vision, your kindness, your compassion, your love, your sexiness, your intelligence, your warmth, your friendship, your wisdom."