Patrick Dempsey: 'I'm Sorry, What Did You Just Say? My Kids Are Fighting'

By Nicki Gostin Posted Jul 1st 2011 10:18PM

Patrick Dempsey is taking a break from being (mc)dreamy to appear in one of the biggest action flicks of the summer, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon.' The 45-year-old Mainer was in New York promoting the popcorn pleaser accompanied by his brood, 9 year-old Tallula and 4-year-old twins, Darby and Sullivan. PopEater caught up with him on the way to a park in downtown Manhattan. He'd done FAO Schwartz and a Lego store the day before. Dempsey sounded distracted and, refreshingly, just like every other parent dealing with boisterous children.

Hello ... Hello?
(Pause) Yeah hi, sorry I'm with my kids in the car, we're trying to get around traffic. Yeah we're just trying to get them figured out. How are you?

I'm good. How are you?
(Sounding distracted) Um, okay.

So you're in the new 'Transformers' movie. Was it weird being in a big action movie?
Oh no it was a lot of fun. I had a blast.

'Transformers 3' Trailer | Times and Reviews

Oh I know it wasn't bad. I meant was it strange going from 'Grey's' to 'Transformers'?
It was certainly a departure to go from a Shonda Rhimes show to a Michael Bay movie. They couldn't be further from each other. It was very schizophrenic to go from one to the other.

This is your 8th year on 'Grey's Anatomy.' How many times can you guys break up and get back together?
Well that's my question. That's the big thing, I think everyone's getting very, very tired of that I think it's important that we move forward otherwise there's just not going to be anymore shows. Everyone including the actors are tired of that. It's up to ABC whether we will come back for another season.

Are you still happy doing the show?
I'm sorry what did you just say? My kids are fighting.

Wait, that's more interesting. What are your kids fighting about?
Oh, it doesn't matter. One wants Lego, typical stuff. Just trying to get them all satisfied.

Are you constantly separating them?
Pretty much and you feel like you've turned into your mother or father. It's like you're possessed by them. The worst is when they're all crying and you can't do anything and then they turn on a dime and your head is just completely spinning.

Your daughter is nine.
She's starting to lose that little girl quality and have that tween energy. You have to be very careful in keeping that in check. It's very scary. It's like, if she's going to be like this at nine, what is she going to be like at 15?

Are you so thrilled that you've been blessed with a full head of hair?
(Laughs) Especially now that my friends are starting to lose their hair. It's usually a pain in the ass to deal with so I just throw on a baseball cap and cover it.

Do you have lots of different shampoos and conditioners?
No, I don't like to deal with it. No! Stay on the sidewalk, don't run into the street! Shonda Rhimes says that my hair has its own number on the call sheet. C'mon buddy, I'm sorry where were we? All day long I'm running after them and I'm trying to have some family time and at the same time I'm promoting this movie.

Do you almost feel like a doctor at this point?
Yeah I'm always getting asked for medical advice and I freely give it now, like I'm some pseudo-doctor which gets me into trouble, I don't know what I'm talking about! I'll just get sued for malpractice.

If your wife asks you to take out that garbage do you ever say, 'I'm Dr. McDreamy, Dammit!'
No that does not work in my house. At all.

More From Nicki Gostin This Week: La Toya Jackson, Howie Mandel, Linda Hogan and Elijah Wood

Tags: Greys Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey, Transformers 3

Comments

(22)

Friday 01 July

By Kat

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Driving with 'boisterous' children in the backseat is distracting/dangerous enough; did we really need to add a phone interview to the mix?

By Jac

Especially in NY where driving while using a cell is illegal!

By Carole

That was my first thought, too. Why did he answer the phone? Why did the interviewer keep asking him questions while he was trying to navigate through traffic, especially with kids in the car? How stupid they both were to continue the conversation.

By Holly

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I highly doubt he was driving himself.

By Sherry

Um I'm pretty sure he was probably being driven by a driver. :)

Thursday 07 July

By MikeyNYC

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Ever hear of bluetooth and speakerphones? Its not illegal to use your phone in the car, its just illegal to have your phone in your hand while driving. I would agree, however, that its probably not the best idea to be giving an interview while your children are fighting in the car, but unless Mr. Dempsey was holding the phone in his hand, its not illegal.

By victoriouskw

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I'm sick of Dempsey all together.

Saturday 02 July

By fiona

...and does he never get tired of that same pose??

By cmjaz

I'm still confused by the "Stay on the sidewalk...don't run into the street!" huh?

By Mise, Ireland

He was talking to his kids :) I wish she had stuck with the Grey's questions, I don't care about his hair.

Monday 04 July

By ken

Are you still happy doing the show?
I'm sorry what did you just say? My kids are fighting.

Wait, that's more interesting. What are your kids fighting about?

LOL

By Liz

You tell them PD!! We all know Shonda is deaf and NEVER admits that she was wrong, but maybe she'll stop with the will they/won't they crap with MerDer? One can hope? Or not...

By Lassie

This article served two purposes: 1) Flog the movie (as if it needs publicity). 2) Show Patrick Dempsey as just another dad, just like a NORMAL person, not a big celebrity. Aww, his kids squabble JUST LIKE OURS! Aww! (no mention of celebritydom this time, like pesky questions about sex tapes, cheating, tantrums, questions about the Grey's.)

By Vivi

You know by several things Pat has said here, he's trying to clue you in; "He's trying to have some time with his kids" and constantly distracted, obviously he's busy ya know, driving with his kids whose vying with you for daddy time. This guy probably works a lot of hours for that movie you're hounding him over, and his kids don't get a lot of time with him most likely. This was in absolute poor taste, you should have called back later. Look at what we learned as a result? Nothing about him. You, however..

By fudgegrape

Did he really need to use schizophrenic in one of his answers? I find that offensive. Schizophrenia runs in my family so I really doubt he knows what it's like to have to deal with something so devestating on a normal basis.

By Ladym

I find you get offended rather easily. Definitely a problem in the world today. Buck up.

Sunday 03 July

By Alex

How annoying are you? He didn't even use it in a derogatory way. Get off your high horse and get over yourself.

By soalmorgan

Sounds like the guy takes being a dad seriously. Maybe more Hollywood types should follow the example. I know I wasn't the perfect father but I did try to be and I still say that the most masculine vehicle a man can drive is a minivan with a car seat and a stroller inside. That proves a lot more than a Porsche, A Lexus or a Hummer. The guy looking after his kids already has all the proof of his masculinity he needs. I hope for the kids sake he is as dedicated as he seems,

By preston sturges

Silly bit of business. A more interesting topic would have been to get into his work with MAZDA and the movie/TV career. I wonder if the interviewer{?} even knows about that side of his life?

By sharon

So sick of this guy! What is his appeal. He is NOT HOT at all!!

Enough already!

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