When Gillian Fink saw Patrick Dempsey’s name on her salon’s appointment list in 1994, she thought it was a joke. As the story goes, Gillian, a famous hairstylist and makeup artist, was running a salon at the time she met the future McDreamy. One of her employees had a habit of putting celebrity names on her to-do list, so when Gillian saw Patrick’s name, she didn’t think much of it. She was very surprised when he came into her salon.
“I was shocked,” she previously told PEOPLE. But at the same time, I was happy because it was so cute.
The two were dating at the time of their meeting, and although they developed a friendship, they did not develop a romantic relationship until 1997. Two years later, Gillian and Patrick were married on July 31, 1999, and the rest was history. They are the proud parents of three children, welcoming daughter Tallulah in 2002 and twin sons Darby and Sullivan in 2007.
Their relationship wasn’t without its ups and downs, and although they briefly broke up in 2015, the couple has managed to weather their ups and downs.
“I had no intention of letting go of our marriage,” Patrick told PEOPLE in 2016. “We didn’t feel like we had done all the work. And we both wanted to do it. It went from there.”
As Patrick celebrates his 60th birthday on January 13, 2026, we take a look back at some of his sweetest family photos with his wife Gillian and their three children.
Another year around the sun
On their 26th wedding anniversary, Jillian unearthed another photo from their wedding day in which her make-up artist friend was making touch-ups. “Or took something out of my tooth,” Jillian shared on Instagram.
She added: “I love you so much and the life we’ve built with our three ‘adult’ children. On to new adventures!”
Posting the same photo, Patrick praised his wife in the caption, writing, “I can’t imagine life without you. Thank you so much for your love, support, and understanding. You are an amazing mother and an amazing partner who loves my weaknesses as much as I love my strengths.”
where did it all start
To celebrate his 25th anniversary with Gillian, the Grey’s Anatomy star posted a sweet photo from their 1999 wedding. “25 years feels like yesterday! It’s humbling how quickly time passes,” he wrote in the caption.
Dempsey continued, “Life would not be the same without you. Your vision, your kindness, your compassion, your love, your sexiness, your intelligence, your warmth, your friendship, your wisdom. The love of my life, I am so grateful for everything you do and for who you are. You are an amazing mother, wife, friend, and partner.”
love everything
Karwai Tan/WireImage
Talulah made a rare and stylish appearance with her parents on day 14 of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships in London.
Welcome, Talulah!
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
On February 20, 2002, the Dempsey family experienced their first moment of joy with the birth of their daughter, Talulah Fife. In this throwback photo, the father-daughter duo can be seen spending some quality time together.
and the baby will be five
Patrick Dempsey’s Instagram
Five years later, on February 1, 2007, the Dempsey family was doubly blessed when they welcomed twin boys Darby and Sullivan. Dempsey, the Ferrari actor, was keenly aware of the completely different personalities of the two from an early age, and compared Darby to Sullivan, he described Darby as “reserved and quiet”, and said of Sullivan, “He’s a very interesting person, and he has an interesting expression on his face when he accepts things.”
all over the world
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
Dempsey shared a throwback shot of himself and Talulah at the London Eye to celebrate his baby girl’s 23rd birthday.
incorporate it
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
In this photo Dempsey shared on Instagram, he was seen playing with his sons.
Bellissima
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
Patrick and Gillian shared a kiss in this adorable photo, presumably taken while in Italy. “Bellisima,” the actor wrote.
Still the One
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
The Valentine’s Day actor celebrated his 24th wedding anniversary in 2023, writing, “24 years!! What an amazing path we’ve been on! I love you! Happy anniversary.”
celebrate jillian
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
And for Mother’s Day in 2024, she simply wrote, “Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom and wife! We love you.”
All about the gang is here
Albert L. Ortega/Getty
Years before starring in Ferrari, Dempsey was a producer on 20th Century Fox’s The Art of Racing in the Rain, and his entire family showed their support at the film’s 2019 premiere.
Just Us Two
Patrick Dempsey’s Instagram
“What a wonderful, caring, young woman you have become…I am so proud of you. You are beautiful inside and out! Love bursts!” Dempsey wrote to celebrate her daughter’s 18th birthday.
Congratulations, twins
Patrick Dempsey/Instagram
Proud parents Patrick and Jillian arrived in matching outfits to cheer on their twin sons as they graduate from high school.
night like a ferrari
Amy Sussman/Getty
Dempsey’s crew looked in great spirits as they celebrated the patriarch’s blockbuster film Ferrari in Los Angeles in 2023.
