Patrick Dempsey Reflects on Leaving Grey’s Anatomy to Chase a Racing Dream
patrick dempsey has explained that he left Grey’s Anatomy because it was “time to walk away” and he wanted to pursue a full season in the World Endurance Championship, calling motorsport his true passion. The actor’s decision, and the path that followed, highlights a rare career pivot from a long-running television role to professional endurance racing and expanded philanthropy.
Patrick Dempsey on leaving Grey’s Anatomy
The actor, an original cast member from the show’s 2005 start, said he left during the program’s 11th season after nearly a decade on the series. He described the timing as a moment to step away, noting that Grey’s Anatomy gave him a powerful platform that he credits with positive impact beyond his screen work. He said the show has inspired many young people to enter the medical profession, and that visibility helped his charity efforts.
From McDreamy to the WEC: the racing pivot
patrick dempsey explained that the opportunity to race a full season in the WEC, the World Endurance Championship, was his motivation for leaving the hit medical drama. He called the WEC his love and went on to compete in international sportscar racing. The actor achieved first place in a six-hour endurance race held in Japan, a milestone that underscores the seriousness of his racing commitment.
How the move influenced charity and family life
Beyond racing and acting, the actor has used his profile to support cancer care in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine, opening a cancer treatment centre there. The centre focuses on holistic support for patients, offering services such as nutritional care, counselling, fitness classes and integrative therapies. That work was inspired by his mother’s long cancer journey, which included more than a dozen recurrences, and aims to treat the person, not just the disease.
He has also been careful about how the television series reached his family, saying he limited his children’s exposure to the show and describing them as very direct with their opinions. The choice to keep his children away from the program reflects a personal approach to balancing public success and private life.
Where he stands now: career variety and public profile
Since leaving the series, the actor has combined racing, acting in other projects including romantic comedies and a new crime drama, and charitable work. He noted that Grey’s Anatomy remained a blessing that opened doors, while his move into endurance racing answered a longstanding personal ambition. He has also received renewed cultural attention in recent years for his profile and roles outside the medical drama.
Recent updates indicate these reflections represent his own assessment of leaving a defining television role to follow a competing passion. Details of future projects and racing seasons may evolve.
