Rob Lowe Reveals He Turned Down McDreamy Role in Grey’s Anatomy
In a recent podcast interview on ‘WTF with Marc Maron’, actor Rob Lowe disclosed that he had turned down the opportunity to play the iconic Dr. Derek Shepherd, aka McDreamy, in the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. The role eventually went to Patrick Dempsey, who became a fan favorite and earned the nickname McDreamy for his character’s undeniable charm and sex appeal.
During the interview, Lowe joked that his decision to pass on the role potentially cost him $70 million. However, he seemed to take it in stride, stating that it’s only money and implying that he doesn’t harbor any regrets about his choice.
Rob Lowe’s Thoughts on Grey’s Anatomy and McDreamy
Lowe admitted that he watched Grey’s Anatomy when it first premiered in 2005. As the McDreamy nickname gained traction, he realized that the role wasn’t meant for him. Nonetheless, many of Lowe’s fans would likely argue that the actor possesses the necessary sex appeal to have earned the title.
Grey’s Anatomy has since become the longest-running medical drama on American television, surpassing the previous record-holder, ‘ER’, with 332 episodes. Patrick Dempsey portrayed the beloved neurosurgeon Dr. Shepherd from the series’ inception in 2005 until his character’s tragic death in a car accident during season 11 in 2015. Dempsey’s performance earned him four awards and contributed to his estimated personal net worth of around $70 million.
Rob Lowe’s Career Choices After Turning Down McDreamy
Despite passing on the McDreamy role, Rob Lowe’s career has continued to flourish. In 2005, the same year Grey’s Anatomy debuted, Lowe appeared in the film ‘Thank You for Smoking’ as Jeff Megall and in the TV movie ‘The Christmas Blessing’ as Robert Layton. He also starred in six episodes of ‘Beach Girls’ as Jack Kilvert.
Lowe’s television career has remained successful in the years since. From 2006 to 2010, he played one of the lead characters, Robert McCallister, in ‘Brothers & Sisters’. He then appeared in 76 episodes of ‘Parks and Recreation’ as Chris Traeger from 2010 to 2015. Lowe has also had lead or recurring roles in series such as ‘Moonbeam City’, ‘The Grinder’, and ‘The Lion Guard’, in which he currently provides the voice for Simba.
Rob Lowe’s Doctor Role Despite Turning Down McDreamy
Interestingly, Rob Lowe has portrayed a doctor on television, despite declining the McDreamy role. He appeared in 29 episodes of ‘Code Black’ from 2016 to 2019 as Dr. Ethan Willis.
Currently, Lowe serves as the host and producer of the intelligence and mental agility competition series ‘Mental Samurai’. He is also set to appear in the upcoming Christmas romantic comedy film ‘Christmas in the Wild’, slated for release later this year.
Rob Lowe’s Financial Success and Personal Life
With an estimated personal net worth of $60 million, Rob Lowe’s decision to turn down the McDreamy role has hardly left him struggling. In his personal life, he has been happily married to Sheryl Berkoff since 1991, after meeting her only twice. The couple has two sons together, Matthew Edward and John Owen.
Follow Us
