Derek Christopher Shepherd, M.D., F.A.C.S., also referred to as "McDreamy", is a fictional surgeon from the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor Patrick Dempsey. He made his first appearance in the pilot episode, "A Hard Day's Night", which was broadcast on March 27, 2005.
Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd in 2012
Shepherd's relationship with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) has been the highlight of the series since its inception.
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, later named the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The series premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The show's title is an allusion to Gray's Anatomy, a classic human anatomy textbook. Writer Shonda Rhimes developed the pilot and served as showrunner, head writer, and executive producer until stepping down in 2015. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series is filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The original lead characters of Grey's Anatomy
Chyler Leigh's character was introduced in the third season and was promoted to series regular in season 4.
Eric Dane originally auditioned for the pilot episode of Grey's Anatomy, but was not cast at that time.
The Space Needle, in Seattle, is the background to many exterior shots.
