Rochelle Parker & Jillian Fink’s Contrasting Marriages to People’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive

• This "Grey's Anatomy" actor was once married to a woman 26 years his senior.
• The couple's marriage, which was initially a secret, became highly publicized following dirty divorce proceedings.
• The actor has since remarried, and although they faced some hiccups, the pair are now thriving.

This American race car driver and actor led an interesting lifestyle that fans wished to get a glimpse of. Well-known for his role on "Grey's Anatomy," he has been married twice, just like his character, neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd.

The celebrity is also a lover boy in real life like he is in films. The star was once in love and married to a lady 26 years his senior. Their age difference and the fact that his wife had kids older than him didn't affect their marriage, but, they didn't live happily ever after.

The Actor’s Chaotic First Marriage

The star remained a fan favorite after leaving his role as Dr. Shepherd on the ABC hit drama "Grey's Anatomy," but before he took to the entertainment industry in the 1980s, making appearances in films like "Can't Buy Me, Love," he was entangled in a dramatic romance.

In his early 20s, he fell head over heels for Rochelle "Rocky" Parker, who was in her 40s when they met. The couple didn't let their age difference stand in the way of their affection, and they soon became lovers.

The now 57-year-old race car driver and his ex-wife first became acquainted on the set of "Brighton Beach Memoirs." He was only 18, and Parker played his aunt in the movie. They dated for three years before finally walking down the aisle in 1987.

They kept their relationship a secret due to fear of public judgment. The marriage was the young star's first while he was Parker's third husband by then. Her children from previous marriages were older than him, and their love life soon became chaotic, leading to a divorce and messy allegations.

Their Bitter Ending

After eight years together, the couple's marriage crashed in the 1990s, and it wasn't an amicable split. During divorce proceedings, Parker made a series of shocking allegations against the "Grey's Anatomy" actor.

According to her, their marriage crumbled following the "Bridget Jones's Baby" star's infidelity issues. She also claimed he physically abused her in a statement that read:

"While we were on the set of his movie "Can't Buy Me Love," he beat me up because he claimed he 'wanted to see what it was like to beat up a woman!"

Parker further claimed his actions led to some health issues due to the injuries she sustained. She also wrote that the star broke her finger after closing the door of a van on it. However, the actor repeatedly denied her claims.

After the messy divorce proceedings, it turned out Parker had made some false allegations against the actor. In a 1994 court document, she wrote that she struggled with mental health-related issues and saw a psychiatrist during their marriage.

He also revealed that he wasn't prepared to let go of their marriage, and he and Fink decided to work on their differences.

Sadly, Parker died at 74 in 2014 after battling lung and throat cancer. The celebrity, Patrick Dempsey, has since gotten over their messy divorce, finding love again with celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist Jillian Fink.

Patrick Dempsey and Fink’s Love Story

Dempsey and Fink have been together since the 1990s following his divorce from Parker. The two faced some challenges but have stuck together through thick and thin. The movie star met Fink during a visit to the salon where she worked.

During an interview with People in 2002, Fink revealed she was shocked to see Dempsey at the salon but happy he visited because he was "so cute." Although she was attracted to the actor right away, they dated for three years.

Their first date was enough for the pair to discover their love for each other, and they moved in together after three months. The "Sweet Home Alabama" actor and the FYFE Beauty founder tied the knot in 1999.

After their nuptials at Dempsey's family's farmhouse in Lewiston, Maine, the couple expanded their family, welcoming their first child Talula in February 2002. They are also parents to twins Darby and Sullivan, born in 2007.

The lovebirds appeared to have a perfect marriage until January 2015, when they shocked the world with the news that they'd decided to "end our marriage." They revealed that they had mutually decided to separate and would remain civil for their children.

However, Dempsey and his makeup artist wife would later prove that they didn't want a separation and instead fought to save their marriage. The couple gave hints of a possible reconciliation when fans spotted them holding hands in Paris not long after.

Dempsey Wasn’t Prepared to Let Go

In May 2016, the award-winning actor and Fink called off their divorce and got back together, this time stronger. Speaking on his marriage with the mother of his three kids, Dempsey explained that sometimes sacrifices matter.

The celebrity also revealed that he wasn't prepared to let go of their marriage because he didn't feel they'd done everything they could to save it. The light at the end of the tunnel started appearing when he and Fink decided to work on their differences, both wanting to fix things.

The idea of his marriage ending felt "scary" for the actor who thought the potential of breaking up their family or the end of a large section of his life was destabilizing. Dempsey and his wife started attending couples counseling and started healing their marriage.

The celebrity further stated that he and his wife wanted to set a good example for their kids, to teach them that differences can be worked on. He also cut back on his car racing to devote more time to his family.

Dempsey revealed that what saved them was being on the same page in wanting to make their marriage work. He saw his marriage as a “new beginning,” after learning all it took to keep it strong. His advice to others in the same position was to keep at it, communicate, don't get lazy or give up, stay open, and have lots of sex!

As of July 2023, the couple has been married for 24 years, with Fink celebrating the milestone by sharing an Instagram photo of her husband from their hike. That same year, the couple celebrated Dempsey being named the Sexiest Man Alive by People.

Fink paid tribute to her husband's accolade by sharing an Instagram clip of him being awarded the title. She agreed that he deserved the title and revealed she helped groom him for his appearance.

Despite Dempsey's love life drama, his career keeps growing stronger, and his wife remains an acclaimed makeup mogul.