Patrick Dempsey is forever tied to ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ as the charming neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd. For more than a decade, fans watched Derek’s complicated love story with Meredith Grey, which turned him into one of the defining faces on television.
But before Dempsey ever stepped into Seattle Grace Hospital, his path could have taken a very different turn. In fact, Dempsey was in the running for another major medical drama role. And, if the casting had gone differently, two of the most iconic TV doctors of the 2000s might have looked completely different.
Patrick Dempsey Auditioned For A Different Medical Drama Before ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Patrick Dempsey was once trying to land the lead role in ‘House‘. Yes, we are talking about our good ol’ cranky and quirky Gregory House. Back when the show was gearing up for its 2004 debut, the makers needed someone to bring the brilliant but brutally honest Dr. House to life. The character is now famous for sarcastic remarks, unconventional medical instincts, and complete disregard for social niceties.
Eventually, English actor Hugh Laurie secured the role and gave us one of TV’s most unforgettable doctors. Actually, he is one of the most compelling characters ever written.
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However, before Laurie signed for the part, Dempsey had a strong chance at getting cast. According to TV Guide, the actor had gone in to audition for ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ first. At the time, though, he walked out of the meeting convinced the opportunity had slipped away.
Dempsey later admitted he believed he did not land the role because of how creator Shonda Rhimes reacted during the audition. “I thought I didn’t get the job because of the way she was looking at me,” he recalled. Soon afterward, he auditioned for the lead role in ‘House,’ competing against actors like Denis Leary and Rob Morrow. In the end, however, Hugh Laurie embodied the legendary role.
The Lost ‘House’ Role Led Dempsey Straight To McDreamy
Interestingly, losing the role of Dr. House turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not long after that audition, Dempsey received a call asking him to read alongside the actress who would play Meredith Grey in ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘. That actress, of course, was Ellen Pompeo.
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Their chemistry during the reading worked instantaneously, and the role of Derek Shepherd soon became Dempsey’s. As fans already know, Derek entered the show as a talented neurosurgeon and eventually rose to become Chief of Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
His charm, surgical skill, and complicated romance with Meredith quickly made him one of the most popular characters on the series. Undoubtedly, it would have been great if Dempsey had gotten the chance on ‘House.’ But Laurie played the character brilliantly. So, the version of events that fans ultimately got gave television two of its most beloved doctors, the dreamy Dr. Shepherd and the Sherlock Holmes of the medical world, Dr. House.
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