Then vs. Now: Patrick Dempsey’s Iconic Hair Through the Years

Grey's Anatomy 0

PEOPLE’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive Patrick Dempsey has a lot going for him — wife! kids! career! this title! — but there’s been one constant that fans have always seemed to really love: his incredible hair.

Ever since he hit the scene in the 1980s, the actor has had some particularly luscious locks, whether he’s wearing them naturally and wavy or perfectly salt-and-pepper styled (by wife Jillian for PEOPLE’s cover!).

Here, take a look at Dempsey’s five decades of hot hairstyles.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 1986

Patrick Dempsey (as Mike Damone) in 1986 in CBS television's Fast Times, a sitcom based on the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Patrick Dempsey’s hair in 1986.CBS via Getty

In one of his first roles, on the 1986 CBS series Fast Times, Dempsey kept his thick black curls long and tall.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 1992

Actor Patrick Dempsey poses for a portrait at the Independent Spirit awards at Raleigh Studios on March 28, 1992 in Los Angeles, California.
Patrick Dempsey’s hair in 1992.Dianna Whitley/Getty

At the Independent Spirit Awards, the actor sported the early makings of what would become his signature hairstyle.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 2005

Patrick Dempsey in Grey's Anatomy, 2005.
Patrick Dempsey’s hair on Grey’s Anatomy.Frank Ockenfels/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

As Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, Dempsey was absolute #hairgoals with his perfect dark coif.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 2005

Actor Patrick Dempsey attends Moves' 2013 Fall Fashion Issue Cover Party on August 26, 2013 in New York City.
Patrick Dempsey’s hair in 2013.Mike Pont/FilmMagic

In the 2010s, the actor went shorter for a while, and started letting his pops of gray come through.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 2022

Patrick Dempsey at D23 EXPO 2022
Patrick Dempsey’s hair in 2022.The Walt Disney Company via Getty

When he began filming his upcoming movie Ferrari, Dempsey went platinum blond for the role of race car driver Piero Taruffi — a process he said took six hours.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 2022

Patrick Dempsey gives himself a buzz-cut, 2022
Patrick Dempsey’s hair in 2022.Jillian Dempsey/ Instagram

And what’d he do when filming was done? Shave it off!

Wife Jillian told PEOPLE at the time that the cut was a beauty “rebirth” much needed for the star after dyeing his hair, which resulted in hard-to-manage roots that looked almost “invisible” as they grew out.

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Patrick Dempsey’s Hair in 2023

Patrick Dempsey attends a photocall for the movie "Ferrari" at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2023 in Venice, Italy.
Patrick Dempsey’s hair in 2023.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

When Dempsey hit the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival to promote Ferrari earlier this year, he broke the Internet with his silver fox status.

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