Grey’s Anatomy News: What’s Next For Patrick Dempsey?
The unthinkable happened this week on Grey’s Anatomy, and we may never get over it. Spoilers ahead!
Grey’s Anatomy has gotten rid of characters before, and it’s offered some of the most terrible tragedies imaginable. But nothing, nothing, could compare to this.
Patrick Dempsey decided it was time to leave Grey’s Anatomy, and his character, Derek Shepherd, was killed off in an emotional episode, “How to Save a Life.”
It’s no secret that Dempsey had been thinking of leaving the show for a while, but no one expected it to happen so suddenly. As for what’s next for the actor, Dempsey is already developing two new projects, but he has other priorities as well. In an interview with EW, Dempsey stated:
“I’m focusing now on developing and racing and being a father to my children. Those are my priorities.”
ABC released the following statement addressing Dempsey’s departure:
After 11 seasons on Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey is moving on to pursue other interests. Dr. Derek Shepherd is an iconic character and we’ve been proud to be the home of ‘McDreamy’ and the ‘Mer/Der’ love story. The devotion of Grey’s fans throughout the years has been a testament to the creative mind of Shonda Rhimes and Dempsey’s talent. ‘McDreamy’ will be greatly missed and we wish Patrick the very best in his future endeavors.
After 11 years of seeing Derek Shepherd on our screens, it’s definitely tough to say goodbye.
I want to thank all the fans, what an incredible 11 yrs, I love you all
— Patrick Dempsey (@PatrickDempsey) April 24, 2015
How do you feel about the way Derek Shepherd was written off the show? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.
Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider.
Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.