Patrick Dempsey has been named ‘Sexiest Man Alive‘ this year by People. A title the actor wears with due pride, and one that we too can certainly understand. But was McDreamy actually just as handsome before? We dive into the archives!

In the footsteps of Brad Pitt

Every year, American magazine People proclaims a celebrity as the sexiest man of the moment. Previously we have seen names such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Idris Elba pass the review, and now it is Patrick Dempsey who gets to wear the coveted title.

“I’m glad it’s happening now. The recognition is nice and it’s good for my ego,” the actor admits. “But it’s mostly a platform for me to do something positive with it.” By that, Patrick is referring, among other things, to his own Dempsey Center, a charity he founded in honor of his late mother to support cancer patients and their loved ones.

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You may know Patrick from many films, but to the general public he only really became known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in Grey’s Anatomy. Later, the actor splashed off the screen in such films as Bridget Jones and Transformers.

Happy in love

Slightly less fun news for the single ladies among us: Patrick is, in fact, already taken. The actor has been happy for 24 years with Jillian, whom he likes to highlight on Instagram from time to time:

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“You’re like a fine wine, you only get better with age,” Patrick wrote with the photo. Sweet! But can we actually say the same about Patrick Dempsey himself? See what he used to look like on the next page!

Remember when Angelina Jolie and Brat Pitt adopted a baby? This is her now!