Meredith Grey would be proud of these salt-and-pepper strands. James Gourley/James Gourley/Getty Images Patrick Dempsey entered his sixties this month with a head of hair thick enough to spark jealousy in men half his age. In an interview with Parade, Dempsey voiced gratitude for his enviable hairline, though he noted its rapidly changing color. “I’m grateful that I have hair. It is getting grayer by the day, but at least it’s there,” he said. Patrick Dempsey visits SiriusXM Studios on January 28, 2026, in New York City. Jason Mendez/Getty Images
While the actor, who turned 60 on January 13, came to fame through rom-coms like Can’t Buy Me Love (1987) and Sweet Home Alabama (2002), his name is synonymous with Dr. Derek Shepherd, his character on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Dempsey appeared in the show’s 2005 pilot episode and co-starred as Dr. Meredith Grey’s interest for 11 seasons. His character was killed off in 2015, but Dempsey later reprised his role as the “McDreamy” doctor for the show’s 17th season. Get a First LookSign up to receive news and updates from The Looker Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo as Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey in 'Grey's Anatomy.'IMDb/Shondaland
On Grey’s Anatomy, Dempsey’s hair gradually went from his natural chestnut brown shade to the distinguished salt-and-pepper mix he has today. Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) in season 11 of 'Grey's Anatomy.' Grey's Anatomy
When asked if he plans to dye his hair, Dempsey offered a simple answer: “No,” he said, adding, “I actually like the gray hair.” The Parade interviewer speculated that Dempsey’s wife likely wouldn’t let him dye his hair anyway. The actor married celebrity makeup artist and fan-favorite beauty founder Jillian Dempsey in 1999. “I think she likes it,” Dempsey said. “It’s hard when my wife isn’t doing my hair, but yes, she takes good care of me. We just had our winter break, and the guy who does our hair for the show could tell that she cut it.” “She was analyzing his technique, and he was analyzing hers. It was quite funny,” Dempsey continued. “People are quite territorial when it comes to my hair.”
Patrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink at the CHANEL and Charles Finch Annual Pre-Oscar Dinner at The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel on March 09, 2024.Jon Kopaloff/Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
Dempsey currently stars in Memory of a Killer, a crime drama on FOX, in which he plays Angelo Doyle, a salesman who begins losing his memory. The couple shares three children: daughter Talula, 23, and twin sons Sullivan and Darby, 18. Talula is a pastry chef, which Dempsey said can be “dangerous.” Patrick Dempsey was 20 while filming "Can't Buy Me Love." IMDb/Sony
“She’s always experimenting, and I’m always eating way too many sweet treats. And those treats come fresh right out of the oven,” he said, adding, “Oh my God, I have to be careful.” Dempsey also revealed that one of his sons is following in his footsteps and studying to be an actor. “I have one going to NYU at the Stella Adler acting school in New York. He is old-fashioned about it. We’ll see what happens,” he said. In the 2023 movie Ferrari, Patrick Dempsey dropped a platinum blonde barnet - a move away from his natural silvering hair. It was cool while it lasted, but last night in Barcelona, with his medium-length lid back on full form, the actor proved again that grey is gold.
Rather than dying his hair (unless it’s for work), he’s rolling with it. He’s not quite full silver fox, and the remnants of his darker base are coming through the roots. But embracing the salt and pepper transition is tried and true, with Dempsey joining George Clooney and Pierce Brosnan in the upper echelons. Cesc Maymo
Going grey can alter the way your hair looks and feels (it can be coarse and dryer). That means a regime change is needed. Some cuts, like a short back and sides are the default salt and pepper shape-up, but because pigmented hair is naturally thicker than grey hair, it can appear thinner. But if you’re blessed with thick hair like Dempsey, you’ve got a few options. A gently brushed back cut can help make hair appear darker and thicker. And in Dempsey’s case, it adds some golden era Hollywood spice in the process.
When it comes to styling grey or greying hair, picking the right products is key. To achieve Dempsey’s heavy-volume, use a pomade to add thickness and texture. Apply it to freshly washed and towel-dried hair with your finger tips, before using a wide-toothed comb to push it back. It’s a classic haircut and it’s remained hot for a reason - it looks really good, no matter your age or hair colour.
Sure, younger actors like Paul Mescal and Harris Dickinson rock the hell out of warehouse raver mini mullets. Patrick Dempsey's giving a new meaning to the term, silver fox! The 56-year-old actor showed off a silver-toned, bleached-blonde hairdo while accepting the Disney Legend award at the D23 Expo in Anaheim Friday. Dempsey, who is known for his salt-and-pepper mane, was nearly unrecognizable as he took the stage to accept his trophy alongside his Grey's Anatomy co-star, Ellen Pompeo. With the honor, the Grey's alum joins a Hall of Fame for individuals who have made huge contributions to The Walt Disney Company. ET spoke to Dempsey at the Expo, where he marveled at the impact Disney has had on his life. "You know, it's really special. You start to look at all the images of how many films I have done and television shows, and all of that. Disney has had a big impact on my life and my family," Dempsey gushed. "It's very special. Tremendous honor." The Walt Disney Company via Getty Images
The sequel will see Giselle (Adams) now living in Monroeville, married to Robert Philip (Dempsey). Anyone who’s been a devoted fan of Grey’s Anatomy knows that the best way to describe Patrick Dempsey‘s hair is “iconic” - there’s a reason that it came up in conversation so many times when the topic turned to McDreamy on the show! Now, in a new interview with Parade, Patrick has admitted that people do tend to get a bit “territorial” over his hair, even noticing the smallest of changes he may make to it. Patrick admitted he likes his gray hair. When he was asked if he was having a good hair day, Patrick opened up about his salt and pepper hair. “I’m grateful that I have hair. It is getting grayer by the day, but at least it’s there,” he said, adding that he has no plans to dye it all dark again, the way it was when he was younger. “I actually like the gray hair,” he said. He said that people tend to have deep feelings about it. Patrick added that his wife, Jillian, who is a professional stylist, also likes his hair… and he’s not the only one. “It’s hard when my wife isn’t doing my hair, but yes, she takes good care of me,” he said. “We just had our winter break, and the guy who does our hair for the show could tell that she cut it. She was analyzing his technique and he was analyzing hers. It was quite funny. People are quite territorial when it comes to my hair.” He did briefly change his hair a few years ago. In 2022, Patrick dyed his hair platinum blonde for his role in Ferrari - a striking difference from the dark head of hair we’ve seen from him in the past! At that year’s D23 convention, the 60-year-old actor said that it had been a jarring change for his family, as fun as it had been for him to switch things up a bit. “My kids freaked out and my son actually likes it,” he told Entertainment Tonight at the time. “And one son doesn’t, and my wife liked it too, so, it’s fine. It’s nice to have a little bit of a transition.” Now, Patrick has had his gray streaks so long that it’s hard to imagine him without it - despite how long we followed his younger years when it was all much darker. We protect your data.
