Patrick Dempsey has been crowned People Magazine’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive.
The actor, 57, left viewers of Grey’s Anatomy swooning for years with his portrayal of Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd.
While his on-screen relationship with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) kept fans gripped for 11 seasons – the leading lady in his real life has been by his side for much longer.
So, who is the actor’s wife Jillian Dempsey? When did they tie the knot and how many children do they have?
Let’s take a look inside the life of the man dubbed the ‘sexiest alive’.
Loyal: On screen we may be used to Patrick Dempsey starring with Ellen Pompeo but Jillian Dempsey has played the real life role of adoring wife for 24 years (pictured in August)
Crowned: The Grey’s Anatomy star has been crowned People Magazine’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive (pictured in April)
Who is Patrick Dempsey’s wife Jillian?
Patrick’s wife, Jillian Dempsey, née Fink, was born on February 4, 1966.
Since the 90s, Jillian has become an accomplished hairstylist and makeup artist with a star-studded clientele.
She has worked with numerous famous faces, including Kristen Stewart, Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Emilia Clarke and Jennifer Lawrence.
The beauty pro even created a signature lip gloss for the cast of Charlie’s Angels, and her makeup products were put to use on the set of another noughties film, Sweet Home Alabama.
Adding to the long list of impressive accomplishments, Jillian also ran her own hairdressing salon in Los Angeles, before selling it in 1998.
She was also appointed as Avon’s first Global Creative Colour Director in 2007.
The actor’s wife has become renowned for her mastery of colour, and with that talent has created two makeup lines.
The hairstylist’s first line was named Delux Beauty, and its primary focus centred around being applied by hand – not by sponge or brush.
In 2014, the beauty professional launched a namesake vegan and cruelty-free makeup brand.
During an interview with Beauty Independent in 2021, Jillian said: ‘With my first brand Delux Beauty, I couldn’t afford to do anything that was natural. The cost of goods would have been too high.
‘I wanted to make my current brand cruelty-free and vegan, utilizing natural and organic materials where I could find ingredients and making it really easy to use.’
Patrick has been a constant supporter of his partner’s aspirations – and has even modelled for one of Jillian’s campaigns.
In 2020, the hairdresser released her very own app named FYFE beauty, providing subscribers with a huge selection of makeup and hair tutorial from Jillian and her well-known peers.
A talented duo: Patrick isn’t the only star in the relationship, as hair stylist and makeup artist Jillian (pictured in 2008) has developed a star-studded clientele of her own
Fresh faced: The loved-up couple first met back in 1997 when the actor strolled in to Jillian’s hair salon in Los Angeles for an appointment
Real life rom com: Their first date was a homemade meal at Patrick’s home
When did Jillian Fink and Patrick Dempsey get married?
The loved-up pair first met when the actor strolled through the doors of Jillian’s hair salon for an appointment.
The makeup artist initially thought it was a joke when she spotted the Grey’s Anatomy star’s name in her books, as her employees had a habit of jestingly noting down regular customers as Hollywood stars.
‘I was shocked,’ she told PEOPLE: ‘But at the same time, I was happy because he was so cute.’
Their relationship remained platonic until 1997 as both were in relationships upon their first encounter, Patrick reminisced: ‘She was always flirting.’
In a true rom-com fashion, Patrick and Jillian’s first date was a homemade meal in the actor’s home.
After dating for two years, the pair wed at the Dempsey family home in Maine, with Patrick shedding tears as the hair stylist made her way down the aisle.
The couple celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary in July 2018 by exchanging vows in the same place they tied the knot.
Patrick revealed the heartfelt moment, writing: ‘This spot 19 years ago, today!’
In July 2023, the Dempseys celebrated a whopping 24 years of married life.
However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for the Hollywood couple, as they did briefly separate in January 2015, after Jillian filed for divorce.
A year of couples therapy later, and the pair managed to fix their union in private.
Patrick told PEOPLE: ‘Everybody has their own path. Jill and I decided it was time to work on our issues and improve.
‘We wanted to be role models for our kids like, okay, if you have differences, you can work them out.’
Close call: It hasn’t been completely sunshine and rainbows for the couple as they almost called it quits in January 2015 (pictured in 2022)
How many children does Patrick Dempsey have?
Jillian and Patrick share three children together, daughter Talula Fyfe, who was born in 2002, and twin boys Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick, who they welcomed into the world in 2007.
In a conversation with Maine Women Magazine, the mother-of-three revealed that despite her profession she loves to be make-up free.
She quipped that she felt most beautiful looking and laughing at her children, adding that she adores their ‘super silly and natural’ personalities.
‘I would hate for them to remember me as ‘in a mirror doing your makeup,’ said Jillian.
‘I think that is why I like to do everything on the vanity front as condensed and fast as possible. I call it ‘lazy girl makeup.’
A family affair: The Hollywood couple share three children together, daughter, Talula Fyfe and twin sons, Sullivan Patrick and Darby Galen (pictured in 2019)
