‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast’s Dating Histories: Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and More

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast’s Dating Histories: Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and More

“Pick me, choose me, love me.” Grey’s Anatomy has made an art form out of bringing fictional couples together and tearing them apart. In real life, the cast’s romantic ventures are not always so dramatic. Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey’s Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd are the most beloved duo in the ABC drama’s history. Since the show began in March 2005, fans have been rooting for the pair, even after Derek was killed off in season 11. Although the actor left the series in 2015, viewers got to revisit his relationship with Meredith five years later when his character returned via dream sequences in season 17. The Enchanted star told Deadline in November 2020 that it felt “very special” and “really comfortable” to film scenes with Pompeo again. “It’s like riding a bike. We just have a chemistry and a dynamic that’s always served us well, and I think we have genuine affection for each other,” the actress chimed in. “It was very healing to come back and know that we’re doing something good, putting out a positive story, a healing story, going to make people smile.” While fans have enjoyed watching Meredith fall in and out of love over the years, Pompeo’s husband, Chris Ivery, was not thrilled when he discovered just how steamy the show is. The couple met approximately six months before she filmed the Grey’s Anatomy pilot. [jwplayer EFH0MwS8-zhNYySv2] “Poor guy had no idea what he was getting into,” the Catch Me If You Can actress explained during a July 2021 episode of the “Ladies First With Laura Brown” podcast. As fans applauded Pompeo and Dempsey for their chemistry, Ivery struggled with their romantic scenes. “I remember in the beginning it was really hard for him,” she revealed. “He was like, ‘This is not what I signed up for. You’re kissing a guy — you go to work and make out with that. I like Patrick and everything, he’s a good dude, but, like, really?’” The fame that came with the show’s success also concerned the music producer initially. “It was a lot for him at first. He was really a trooper, I have to say,” the Massachusetts native noted. “He is my favorite person.” Despite the drawbacks to the gig, Pompeo divulged in August 2020 that it has put her in a better position when it comes to her personal life. “I made choices to stay on the show. For me, personally, a healthy home life was more important than career,” she said on the “Jemele Hill Is Unbothered” podcast. “I didn’t grow up with a particularly happy childhood. So to have a happy home life was really something I needed to complete to close the hole in my heart.” Scroll through the gallery below to explore the Grey’s Anatomy cast’s dating histories. [podcast_block]

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Ellen Pompeo

Pompeo met Ivery in 2003, and they tied the knot in November 2007. She gave birth to their first child, daughter Stella, in September 2009. The couple later welcomed daughter Sienna via surrogate in 2014 and son Eli in 2016.

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Chandra Wilson

The actress has been with her partner for more than 30 years, but she has chosen to keep his name private. They share daughters Sarina and Joylin and son Michael.

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Kevin McKidd

McKidd was married to Jane Parker from 1999 to 2017. The exes share son Joseph and daughter Iona. The actor tied the knot with chef Arielle Goldrath in January 2018; they welcomed son Aiden in May 2018 and daughter Nava in July 2019. McKidd announced their split in July 2022, and Goldrath officially filed for divorce the following December. 

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Caterina Scorsone

The actress wed musician Rob Giles in June 2009, and their daughters, Eliza, Pippa and Lucky, arrived in July 2012, November 2016 and December 2019, respectively. The pair split in March 2020 and finalized their divorce in December 2021.

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Camilla Luddington

Luddington tied the knot with actor Matthew Alan in August 2019. They are parents of daughter Hayden and son Lucas, who were born in March 2017 and August 2020, respectively. 

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Chris Carmack

The O.C. alum and musician Erin Slaver welcomed daughter Kai in August 2016. The duo exchanged vows in October 2018. Second daughter, Cielle, was born in May 2022.

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James Pickens Jr.

The actor has been married to former Musique member Gina Taylor since May 1984. They are parents of son Carl and daughter Gavyn.

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Kim Raver

Raver and director Manuel Boyer said “I do” in July 2000. They welcomed sons Luke and Leo in July 2002 and October 2007, respectively.  

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Kelly McCreary

The actress married director Pete Chatmon in May 2019 after meeting him on the set of Grey’s Anatomy. She gave birth to their first child, daughter Indigo, in October 2021.

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Patrick Dempsey

Dempsey was previously married to his manager Rochelle “Rocky” Parker from 1987 to 1994. He moved on with Jillian Dempsey (née Fink), tying the knot in July 1999. They welcomed daughter Talula in February 2002 and twin sons Sullivan and Darby in February 2007. Jillian filed for divorce in January 2015, but the couple reconciled later that year. She requested to have their divorce case dismissed in November 2016.  

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Sandra Oh

Oh was married to filmmaker Alexander Payne from 2003 to 2007 and later linked to musician Andrew Featherston. She has been dating photographer Lev Rukhin since 2016.

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Justin Chambers

Chambers exchanged vows with former model agency booker Keisha Chambers in 1993. They welcomed daughter Isabella in December 1994, twins Maya and Kaila in June 1997, daughter Eva in March 1999 and son Jackson in January 2002.

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Katherine Heigl

The 27 Dresses actress tied the knot with singer Josh Kelley in December 2007. They adopted daughter Naleigh in 2009 and daughter Adalaide in 2012. Heigl gave birth to the couple’s son, Joshua, in December 2016. 

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T.R. Knight

The actor married ballet dancer and writer Patrick B. Leahy in October 2013.

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Sarah Drew

Drew tied the knot with professor Peter Lanfer in June 2002. They welcomed son Micah in January 2012 and daughter Hannah in December 2014. 

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Jesse Williams

Williams wed Aryn Drake-Lee in September 2012. The pair’s daughter, Sadie, arrived in December 2013, while their son, Maceo, was born in 2015. Williams and the real estate broker separated in April 2017, and following a lengthy court battle, they finalized their divorce in August 2020. Since calling it quits with Drake-Lee, the actor has been linked to Minka Kelly, sports anchor Taylor Rooks and actress Taylour Paige.