Did You Know Maine’s Patrick Dempsey Was a Competitive Juggler?

Before he was McDreamy on “Grey’s Anatomy,” did you know the Lewiston native had an interesting talent?

👇 KEEP READING: Maine's Patrick Dempsey: Through the Years 👇

Alexandre Schneider, Getty Images

According to his profile on D23, the official Disney fan club, Patrick Dempsey got his start performing as a juggler, placing second in the junior division at the 1981 International Jugglers’ Association Championship.

He later landed a role in a touring production of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song Trilogy,” helping launch his acting career.

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His early performances also included unicycling, magic, and slapstick comedy.

Dempsey has said his interest in juggling grew out of his childhood love of skiing, after a ski instructor who performed in a vaudeville troupe introduced him to it.

He went on to build an acting career with roles in “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” and “Enchanted,” and became widely known as Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

He was honored as a Disney Legend in 2022 and named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2023.

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And there you have it! Long before McDreamy and Sexiest Man Alive, Dempsey’s path to Hollywood started with juggling clubs and vaudeville-style performance.

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