Patrick Dempsey may be an award-winning actor and one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive, but his most rewarding accomplishment may be raising his three children: daughter Talula and twin sons Darby and Sullivan.
The former “Grey’s Anatomy” star, 59, who shares his kids with his makeup artist wife, Jillian Dempsey, told People in 2020 that being a dad kept him on his toes both mentally and physically.
“I’m constantly amazed by their insight and their observations,” he said, adding, “It’s fascinating and fun to come up with answers to their questions … And the questions are getting harder!”
He’s also been the first to admit that fatherhood hasn’t necessarily gotten easier with each passing year.
The actor opened up to People about the challenges of being a dad to three teenagers in November 2023 when he was named the publications’s Sexiest Man Alive.
“Because you need to be around, but they don’t want you around because they’re fighting for their independence, which they should,” he explained. “They need to find out how they interact in the world, they need to learn those boundaries, they need to make mistakes. And you need to be there for them and allow them to learn from that.”
He added that his sexy new honorific would likely cause all three of his kids to “just make fun of me and pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be,” he said, laughing. “Which is good, they keep me young.”
Read on to learn more about Dempsey’s children.
Talula Dempsey
The Dempseys welcomed their first child, daughter Talula Dempsey, in February 2002.
When it comes to expressing her own creativity, Talula Dempsey heads to the kitchen rather than the stage or screen. She launched a line of baked goods called Talula’s Kitchen in July 2024.
Patrick Dempsey helped announce his daughter’s new business when he shared images of Talula on Instagram that showed her posing with some of her creations. “So proud and excited to announce @taluladempsey launched her new artwork and is now taking orders at the link on her bio @talulaskitchen,” he wrote.
On Feb. 20, 2025, the “Enchanted” star wished his daughter a happy 23rd birthday by sharing a throwback photo on Instagram that showed him holding her in his lap when she was a little girl.
“happy birthday Talula !!! 23 ! So proud of you you’re an amazing human being, kind compassionate and funny and absolutely beautiful inside and out,” he wrote in his caption.
“Thanks dad love ya,” Talula Dempsey responded in the comments, adding a heart emoji.
Jilliam Dempsey also honored her daughter’s birthday on Instagram with a collection of pics of Talula over the years. “Happy birthday @taluladempsey 02-20-02 is a very special day! You were brought into this world, my ‘favorite’ girl who I am so proud of. I love you so much!”
Talula Dempsey joked in the comments, “I believe you meant to type favorite ‘child.’”
Darby Dempsey
The Dempseys became parents again on Feb. 1, 2007 when they welcomed their twin sons, Darby and Sullivan Dempsey.
Patrick Dempsey told People in 2020 that he had been coaching soccer for little ones — and his son Darby, in particular, enjoyed playing the game.
“Darby is passionate about it,” he said, adding of his other kids, “Sullivan wants to be an actor. And Talula loves cooking. She’s incredibly creative.”
In November 2023, Patrick Dempsey credited his twin boys with forcing him to stay fit when he spoke tothe magazine for his Sexiest Man Alive cover story.
“They keep me very active,” said the actor. “I need to stay in shape to keep up with them. The older you get, the more work you have to put in.”
“They’re all athletic, they like to move,” he said of his children. “They are all very disciplined on that and you just try to instill the right values.
“Hopefully, they have the right manners and when they come back in and other parents go, ‘Oh your children are very polite,’ you’re like, ‘That’s nice to hear.’ And you know they are grounded.”
Sullivan Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey honored his twins’ 18th birthday on Feb. 1, 2025 when he shared black-and-white photos of them on Instagram. “happy birthday boys. Love you. I can’t believe you’re 18 !!!” he gushed in his caption.
Jillian Dempsey also sent her sons a cute birthday shoutout on Instagram alongside a trio of pics shot from behind that showed them walking.
“This is what 18 year olds will allow their mom to post for their birthday,” she joked. “Already 1 foot out the door or 4 feet out the door.”