THE GIST
Patrick Dempsey has been married to his wife, Jillian Dempsey, since 1999.
They first became parents in 2002 when they welcomed their daughter, Talula Dempsey.
Five years later, they welcomed their twins, Darby and Sullivan.
For years, Patrick Dempsey made viewers swoon as Grey’s Anatomy’s resident McDreamy. But as he played the ABC heartthrob, he was also a dedicated husband and father of three.
In 1999, Patrick married his longtime wife, makeup artist and hairstylist Jillian Dempsey (née Fink). By 2002, the couple became parents for the first time when they welcomed their daughter, Talula Dempsey. Five years later, they completed their family when they welcomed their twin sons, Darby and Sullivan.
Over the years, Patrick has been candid about the ups and downs of being a dad, including how much harder it is to parent a teen compared to any other age. “Because you need to be around, but they don’t want you around because they’re fighting for their independence, which they should,” he told People in 2023. “They need to find out how they interact in the world; they need to learn those boundaries; they need to make mistakes. And you need to be there for them and allow them to learn from that.”
The Memory of a Killer star then credited his kids for his physique. “They keep me very active,” he said. “I need to stay in shape to keep up with them. The older you get, the more work you have to put in.”
Dempsey also guessed what their reaction would be to him being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. “[They will] just make fun of me and pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be,” he said. “Which is good, they keep me young.”
Below, find out everything there is to know about Patrick Dempsey’s three kids, Talula, Darby and Sullivan.
Talula Fyfe Dempsey
Jillian Dempsey, Patrick Dempsey and Tallula Fyfe Dempsey
Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Patrick and Jillian became parents for the first time when they welcomed their daughter, Talula Fyfe Dempsey, on Feb. 20, 2002.
Over the years, the actor has shown glimpses of some of his favorite moments with Talula, including their in-depth conversations as he drove her to school. “We talk about all kinds of things,” he told Parade in 2008, per People. “We listen to the news and discuss it. I remember when I would do stuff with my father and my mother. You want those moments. They go by very quickly, so you try to get them in when you can.”
Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October 2020, Patrick revealed that Talula’s senior year of high school was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The isolation for them and the lack of socialization is really challenging, especially senior year,” he said of her experience. “My poor daughter missed everything. And that’s the only reason you go back, senior year, is [for the] proms. It’s the victory lap, you celebrate your education — and [she had] none of it.”
To make up for some of the memories she missed out on, Patrick and his wife hosted their own prom at home where Talula got dressed up and spent time with her friends on Zoom. “It’s so sad as a parent,” he said of his reaction, making a note to crown her prom queen during Christmas.
Talula Dempsey
Credit: @talulaskitchen
After graduating high school in 2020, Talula attended George Washington University where she studied psychological and brain sciences and entrepreneurship. She also had a passion for culinary arts, earning multiple Pastry Certifications at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and Le Cordon Bleu London.
In 2023, she launched her own baking business, Talula’s Kitchen. Per the official website, Talula’s Kitchen is a “bespoke dessert catering and specialty pastry business, offering cookies, tartlets, seasonal bundt cakes, and more.” On Instagram, Talula also shares baking recipes, hosting tips, and pictures and videos of her impressive desserts. What began as a childhood passion evolved into a professional culinary journey that took Dempsey from home baking to earning multiple Pastry Certifications at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and Le Cordon Bleu London. She later honed her craft as part of the pastry team at Michelin-starred Gucci Osteria in Beverly Hills.
“I’m very, very proud of her,” Patrick said of her business in a January 2026 interview with Parade. “It’s dangerous when she’s home because she’s always experimenting, and I’m always eating way too many sweet treats. And those treats come fresh right out of the oven. Oh my god, I have to be careful.”
Patrick’s last birthday post for Talula was in February 2025, when Talula was turning 23. “Happy birthday Talula !!!” he wrote on Instagram. “So proud of you; you’re an amazing human being, kind, compassionate and funny and absolutely beautiful inside and out.”
Darby Galen Dempsey
Sullivan Dempsey, Talula Dempsey, Patrick Dempsey, Jillian Fink and Darby Dempsey
Credit: JC Olivera/FilmMagic
Five years after welcoming Talula, Patrick and Jillian welcomed their twin sons, Darby and Sullivan Dempsey, on February 1, 2007.
In 2020, Patrick revealed that he had been coaching soccer for them. “Darby is passionate about it,” he told People. Also in the interview, he described Darby as being much more “reserved and quiet” compared to Sullivan.
Over the years, it seems Darby’s athleticism remained. “Boys are completely different than girls for obvious reasons, but physically they’re so much more active!” Dempsey shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “You cannot turn your back [because] there’s always an injury, there’s always something going on.”
In May 2025, Darby and his twin brother graduated from the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, Calif., where they attended high school. “So proud of you boys and cannot wait to see where the next chapter of your lives will take you!” Dempsey wrote on Instagram.
Talking to Parade, Patrick also revealed that Darby is his kid who’s the least interested in fame or spotlight. “[He] really doesn’t care about the business, doesn’t like the spotlight and doesn’t chase fame,” he told the outlet.
Sullivan Patrick Dempsey
Sullivan Dempsey
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Unlike his more reserved twin brother, Sullivan is following in his father’s acting footsteps. “Sullivan wants to be an actor,” Patrick told People in 2020.
After graduating high school, Sullivan enrolled at NYU and started studying at the Stella Adler acting school in New York. “He is old-fashioned about [acting],” Patrick told Parade. “We’ll see what happens.”
Most recently, Sullivan modeled some vintage dresses for the luxury resale boutique Morphew World. In the photos shared on Instagram on May 28 and June 8, Sullivan strikes a pose in archival looks by Issey Miyake and Yves Saint Laurent.
Patrick’s most recent post about his twins was a joint birthday tribute with his wife. “Such sweet dream twinnies!” they wrote in the Instagram caption in February 2026. “Happy birthday to our very creative & charming babies who turn 19 today @darby.g.dempsey @sullivandempsey_ We love you both so much!”
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