German Heritage & Celebrities: Exploring Roots & Fame

Patrick Dempsey was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2023, the publication announced. The actor, known for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd on the television series Grey’s Anatomy, follows in the footsteps of nearly three dozen other celebrities who have received the honor since 1985, when Mel Gibson was first given the title.

Dempsey’s father, William Allen Schlossnagle, later took the surname of his stepfather, John W. Dempsey. The actor was raised in Turner and Buckfield, Maine, according to information available about his family history. He is married to Jillian Fink, a hairstylist and makeup artist, and they have three children together.

The “Sexiest Man Alive” title has been awarded annually by People magazine, with a few exceptions. In 2015, Keanu Reeves was retroactively named the Sexiest Man Alive for 1994. Three actors – Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp – have each been awarded the title twice. Richard Gere and his then-wife, Cindy Crawford, were jointly recognized as the Sexiest Couple Alive in 1993.

Recent recipients of the title include John Krasinski, who was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2024. Mark Harmon received the honor in 1986, while still starring in the medical drama “St. Elsewhere.”

The magazine began its annual tradition in 1985, selecting Mel Gibson as its inaugural winner. Gibson, at the time, had already gained recognition for his roles in the “Mad Max” franchise and dramatic performances in films like “The Year of Living Dangerously” and “The Bounty.”