Dempsey Struggled To Overcome Dyslexia

Hollywood heartthrob PATRICK DEMPSEY almost quit acting before he landed his comeback role in hit TV series GREY’S ANATOMY – because he was fed up with losing parts as a result of his dyslexia.

The actor made a name for himself in the 1980s starring in movies like Loverboy and Can’t Buy Me Love, but his career faltered in the 1990s and he found himself constantly looking for his next big role.

But, despite attending numerous auditions, he kept losing out to his contemporaries because his disability left him struggling to easily read scripts.

And the 42-year-old had just given up trying to build a career in Hollywood when he landed the part of surgeon Dr. Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd in medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.

He says, “Because of my dyslexia I had to memorize all the dialogue for auditions. If I forgot it, I would then have to get over my frustration. If you constantly don’t get the part it’s very frustrating.”

(PAW/RAG/MT)