Patrick Dempsey: I'll Stay On 'Grey's Anatomy' If I Can Still Race Cars

Patrick Dempsey is keeping the McDreamy dream alive.

The actor, who has played neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd for eight seasons on "Grey's Anatomy," will have his contract expire at the end of this season.

And though there was a touch-and-go point about his future on the ABC medical drama, he told TV Guide in December that he would continue working on "Grey's" if he could also still take part in car racing and some new movie roles.

But on Jan. 8 at the Daytona International Speedway where Dempsey was testing his car for a Grand-AM race latter this month, it seemed like he was getting closer to a done deal. Dempsey explained it was really the racing that mattered most. He told reporters, via People: "The biggest point for me in negotiations is getting time off to come race, so if I don't miss races, I'll probably stay on 'Grey's Anatomy.'"

Dempsey, who added that racing is his "real passion," explained that, as for "Grey's," "We're certainly talking about the future ... Hopefully we can work out a deal."

Ellen Pompeo, Dempsey's on-screen wife, will also see her contract expire at the end of Season 8. "I would never turn up my nose at 'Grey's,'" she said in October of her future on the show. "If I hear from the fans that they want us to keep going, then I would continue because we owe them everything."

"Grey's Anatomy" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.

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Comments

[Connerz1985]

10:24 AM on 01/25/2012

he can do bothh

[My Views]

12:05 PM on 01/17/2012

Truth be known, McDeamy can leave and the show will get better. Let little Gray pick up more TV time and let Mer go. She is getting a little long in the tooth, or is it HighDef TV?? The baby thing is way over the top. DROP IT!

Since the writer's strike the scripts have lost their spark and the show is going down hill. Time for a shake up.

[Deborah Beck]

02:39 PM on 01/11/2012

Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo are the soul of Grey's. While I like the fact that Grey's can bring in new characters and integrate them into the show it won't be the same show without Mer and Der. However, writing props have to go to Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw's characters who to me are the heart of the show as Callie and Arizona. Some of the scripts aren't the best but overall it's good writing and I enjoy the stories told on Grey's.

[msmack22]

11:43 AM on 01/11/2012

Please do not make any changes to the cast of Grey's Anatomy!! I absolutely love the show. Meredith and Derek MUST remain on the show.

[Cornell33]

01:03 PM on 01/11/2012

I feel the same way.

[HannahaS]

10:30 AM on 01/11/2012

The whole show is based around Pompeo's character. It's in the title.

[devinmcmusters]

08:49 AM on 01/11/2012

It's time for some of the older cast to leave and let the Everwood girl and little Grey take over.

[Darlene Callahan]

08:33 AM on 01/11/2012

Hmm I though Ellen Pompeo had already come out and said that this is her last season?? Good news if that's not the case, I've been with the show from the beginning and would be sad to see her go. I like Patrick's role too!

[CountryBeforeParty]

06:34 AM on 01/11/2012

I've hung in there through 8 seasons. The writing isn't as strong as the first few seasons but it's still good work. I hope they all stay.

Maybe that cute blond who left to go to Africa (and ended up on Charlie's Angels) will somehow find her way back to Seattle now that the show was dropped. =)

[Fudgefase]

06:21 AM on 01/11/2012

Seems a bit self-centered....oh wait. He's an actor, isn't he? Self centered comes with the job...

[Orphie]

02:25 PM on 01/11/2012

And with all the years of contract renewal and syndication monies, he's in a financial position to entertain options and make choices about how he wants to live his life. Makes perfect sense to me.

[Rootytootytoot]

06:19 AM on 01/11/2012

8 seasons already? Wow. Got bored after about #4 though. I'm surprised it's still going.

[kapalabhati]

06:18 AM on 01/11/2012

In other words, "I'll stay on, because my agent hasn't got me anything else, and I will never be George Clooney after ER."

[CountryBeforeParty]

06:32 AM on 01/11/2012

He had an acting career before Grey's. He went from movies to TV, while Clooney did the opposite. Sure, it wasn't Clooney level movie roles, but he's had steady work..

And you know he feels he's in a good place if he's thinking about racing cars; the royalties he'll see from syndication will make him very comfortable for the rest of his life.

He may not be Clooney, but he's doing pretty well.

[kapalabhati]

06:43 AM on 01/11/2012

I'm aware of his pre-Grey's career. I've always liked him and still do, but I don't really buy the 40-something guy chucking it all for racing cars, unless, maybe, he's Paul Newman. Even Clooney's not in that stratum.

[bluesdog1]

08:15 AM on 01/11/2012

Ok he is rich, lives in Hollywood, races cars and has an acting career. And, you do what? Farm rice?

[kapalabhati]

08:48 AM on 01/11/2012

Oh, come on. I'm a fan of Dempsey and Grey's. Let's not get carried away here. His contract was up; he said he wasn't coming back; now he says he will if....

[Amalek]

05:27 AM on 01/11/2012

I am on pins and needles.  Isn't racing dangerous?

[PRONESE]

06:16 AM on 01/11/2012

Patrick has been racing in the Grand American Road Racing series for years. Nice guy, Good race car driver and team owner. Many actors have enjoyed Road racing over the years, including: Paul "P.L." Newman, Tom and Dick Smothers "The Smothers Brothers", and Tim Allen, to name a few.
Patrick and his team will participate in the 50th Annual running of the 24 Hours of Daytona on January 28th - 29th. Tune in on the SPEED channel, you may enjoy it!
Links:
Dempsey Racing: http://dempseyracing.net/
Grand American Road Racing: http://www.grand-am.com/
Patrick Dempsey Grand-Am Driver profile: http://www.grand-am.com/drivers/driver.cfm?series=r&did=1929
*
More Coffee...
R/ PRONESE

[devinmcmusters]

08:48 AM on 01/11/2012

Stalker much?