Meet Patrick Dempsey’s wife of 27 years he nearly separated from: ‘I was not prepared to let go’
Patrick Dempsey is the true intergenerational heartthrob: whether you fell in love with Grey’s Anatomy‘s Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd, the grounded divorcée lawyer opposite Amy Adams in Enchanted, or the lovable mathematician Jack Qwant in Bridget Jones’ Baby, you know the actor’s charm well.
Fortunately for the 60-year-old, his own romantic life is much less complicated than any of the characters he’s played, as he has been married to his wife, Jillian Fink, for 27 years, and the couple share three children. Scroll down to find out everything about Patrick Dempsey’s family life…
Who is Patrick Dempsey’s wife Jillian Fink?
Ever since she started out in the industry in the early 1990s, Jillian has been a high-profile hairstylist and make-up artist with an A-list clientele that includes the likes of Kristen Stewart, Kate Winslet, Emma Roberts, Emilia Clarke, Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Lawrence and many more.
© FilmMagicPatrick Dempsey and Jillian Fink attends the F1 Grand Prix Of Monaco on May 25, 2025 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco
She has launched two makeup brands: her first, Delux Beauty, focused on making products that could be applied by hand rather than brush or sponge, and she began her namesake, cruelty-free, organic and vegan makeup line in 2014. Patrick has even modeled for his wife’s campaigns in the past!
How did Patrick and Jillian meet?
The couple’s first meeting sounds straight out of a fairytale: they met in 1994 when he had spontaneously booked an appointment at her LA hair salon, Delux. At the time, they were both in relationships, so only saw each other when he came in for the occasional haircut over the next three years.
© InstagramThrowback photo shared by Patrick Dempsey of his wedding to wife Jillian Fink in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary on July 31, 1999
When the pair were later both single, Patrick asked her out on a date, and the rest is history! Patrick and Jillian eventually got married on 31 July 1999 at his family’s farmhouse in Maine. Speaking of their wedding day, Jillian’s sister and business partner, Kristen Mason said: “He saw her and started crying.” They later welcomed three children: Talula, in 2002, and twin sons, Sullivan and Darby, in 2007.
Patrick and Jillian’s marriage
Though they’re a match made in heaven, they, just like any of us, have had some more difficult moments in their marriage, including a time when they nearly separated in 2015, reportedly as Patrick was struggling to make time for the family. They soon reconciled and have remained married since.
The year after, Patrick told PEOPLE magazine: “Our marriage was not something I was prepared to let go of. I didn’t feel like we had done all the work. And we both wanted to do that work. That’s where it started.”
