Actor Patrick Dempsey has been named People’s 2023 “Sexiest Man Alive,” according to the news site.
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Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel revealed the honor during his talk show Tuesday.
Dempsey, the former Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on “Grey’s Anatomy,” said that while getting the title at age 57 was a surprise, it was nevertheless rewarding.
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” Dempsey told People in this week’s cover story. “It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”
Dempsey, who is married with three children, was asked how his kids would respond to the honor. Dempsey said his 21-year-old daughter and 16-year-old twins will likely do what kids do.
“They’re just going to make fun of me and pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be,” he said. “Which is good, they keep me young.”
The Maine native has had roles in television and movies since the 1980s, including “Transformers,” “Made of Honor,” “Freedom Writers,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and classic ‘80s nostalgia films such as “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Loverboy.”
According to IMDb , he will star in the biopic “Ferrari,” set for release in December. Dempsey, a racecar driver himself, will be playing Italian driver Piero Taruffi.
Here’s everyone who won People’s Sexiest Man Alive title since its inception in 1985:
1985 — Mel Gibson
1986 — Mark Harmon
1987 — Harry Hamlin
1988 — John F. Kennedy Jr.
1989 — Sean Connery
1990 — Tom Cruise
1991 — Patrick Swayze
1992 — Nick Nolte
1993 — Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford “Sexiest Couple Alive.”
1994 — Keanu Reeves
1995 — Brad Pitt
1996 — Denzel Washington
1997 — George Clooney
1998 — Harrison Ford
1999 — Richard Gere
2000 — Brad Pitt
2001 — Pierce Brosnan
2002 — Ben Affleck
2003 — Johnny Depp
2004 — Jude Law
2005 — Matthew McConaughey
2006 — George Clooney
2007 — Matt Damon
2008 — Hugh Jackman
2009 — Johnny Depp
2010 — Ryan Reynolds
2011 — Bradley Cooper
2012 — Channing Tatum
2013 — Adam Levine
2014 — Chris Hemsworth
2015 — David Beckham
2016 — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
2017 — Blake Shelton
2018 — Idris Elba
2019 — John Legend
2020 — Michael B. Jordan
2021 — Paul Rudd
2022 — Chris Evans
2023 — Patrick Dempsey
Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive John Krasinski attends Paramount's "A Quiet Place: Day One" New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on June 26, 2024 in New York City. Krasinski was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Patrick Dempsey was selected by People magazine as its Sexiest Man Alive for 2023. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Cantor Fitz) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Chris Evans was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2022. (Gerald Matzka/Getty Images for Netflix) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Paul Rudd was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2021. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Michael B. Jordan, shown here in this 2018 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2020. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive John Legend was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2019. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor-director Idris Elba was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2018. (Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Blake Shelton was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2017. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2016. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive David Beckham, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2015. (Lars Baron/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Chris Hemsworth, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2014. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Adam Levine, shown here in this 2016 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2013. (Michael Muller/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Channing Tatum, shown here in this 2013 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2012. (Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Bradley Cooper, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2011. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Ryan Reynolds, shown here in this 2016 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2010. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Two-time winner Johnny Depp was named People's Sexiest Man Alive for a second time in 2009. (Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Hugh Jackman, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2008. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Matt Damon was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2007. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Two-time winner George Clooney, who was first named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 1997, won the title again in 2006. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Matthew McConaughey was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2005. (TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Jude Law, shown here in this 2009 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2004. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Two-time winner Johnny Depp was first named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2003. (VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images) Photos: People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive Actor Ben Affleck, shown here in this 2013 file photo, was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2002. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Through the years LOS ANGELES - MARCH 5: Fast Times, a CBS television sitcom based on the theatrical movie: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, about life in and around high school. Pictured is Patrick Dempsey (as Mike Damone). Premiere episode broadcast March 5, 1986. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images) Through the years American actor Patrick Dempsey, London, 1988. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images (Michael Putland/Getty Images) Through the years HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 11: Actor Richard Grieco, actor Patrick Dempsey and actor Christian Slater attend the 17th Annual People's Choice Awards on March 11, 1991 at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty) Through the years AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Walt Disney Television via Getty Images miniseries - 5/11-12/97, This four-hour miniseries, inspired by the Jules Verne novel, took place in 1886 when a "creature of unknown origin" destroyed ships at sea. Marine expert Pierre Arronax (Patrick Dempsey), sailor Ned Land, and companion Cabe Attucks set sail with an American frigate to learn the truth about its existence. After an attack on their ship, Arronax learned the menace was an astounding man-made vessel called The Nautilus, a ship of untold power guided by its builder, Captain Nemo. Arronax fell in love with Nemo's reclusive daughter, Mara (Mia Sara), whom the captain has kept hidden away aboard the Nautilus., (Photo by Bob D'Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Bob D'Amico/Disney General Entertainment Con) Through the years Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey during "Sweet Home Alabama" Premiere - New York at Chelsea West Cinema in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage) (Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage) Through the years HOMESTEAD, FL - APRIL 15: Patrick Dempsey talks with fellow driver Scott Maxwell after finishing driving stint during the Grand Am Koni Challenge at Homestead Miami Speedway on April 15, 2007 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Cleary/Getty Images (Brian Cleary/Getty Images) Through the years ANTIBES, FRANCE - MAY 19: Jillian Dempsey and Patrick Dempsey attends amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS Gala during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap on May 19, 2011 in Antibes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) Through the years MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 04: Actor Patrick Dempsey attends Silhouette press conference on March 4, 2013 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Through the years DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 23: Patrick Dempsey, co-driver of the #27 Dempsey Racing Porsche 911 GT America at a media event during practice for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 23, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) (Jerry Markland/Getty Images) Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Patrick Dempsey arrives for the World premiere of "Bridget Jones's Baby" at Odeon Leicester Square on September 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Through the years WESTERLAND, GERMANY - APRIL 01: Hollywood actor and racecar driver Patrick Dempsey attends the Grand Opening of "Porsche auf Sylt" on April 1, 2017 in Westerland, Germany. German car manufacturer Porsche has opened a new brand experience destination on the German island of Sylt. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images For Porsche) (Alexander Hassenstein) Through the years BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 08: Award winner Patrick Dempseyi waves on stage during the GQ Men of the Year Award show at Komische Oper on November 08, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for GQ Germany) (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for GQ Germany) Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 16: (L-R) James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams arrive at the premiere of Disney’s “Disenchanted” at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood CA on November 16, 2022. The film begins streaming only on Disney+ November 18, 2022. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Disney) (Rich Polk/Getty Images for Disney) Through the years VENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 31: Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink attend a red carpet for the movie "Ferrari" at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2023 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Patrick Dempsey attends the annual Charity Day hosted by BGC Group and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund on September 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund) (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for The Cantor Fitz) Through the years AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Patrick Dempsey poses for a photo on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)