Grey’s Anatomy is one of the longest-running medical dramas in the world and has managed to kickstart the careers of some of America’s finest actors. Whether it’s Jesse Williams or Sandra Oh, all of these remarkable actors got their foot in the door via Grey’s Anatomy. However, it’s fair to say that one of the show’s biggest success stories is Patrick Dempsey.
While Dempsey is now seen as a charming silver fox with ties to Dexter: Original Sin and Bridget Jones’ Baby, he was once viewed exclusively as Dr. Derek Shepherd. Surprisingly, Dempsey also auditioned for two key roles in House, MD. Yet, fans claim that Dempsey’s influence would have completely altered the entire feel of the popular medical drama.
Patrick Dempsey Almost Played Dr. Gregory House
Although a lot of audiences assume that Grey’s Anatomy was the only stand-out medical drama from the early 2000s, House, MD actually aired the year before Shonda Rhimes’ hit. House, MD focused on a peculiar expert named Gregory House who would often use his crass humor and superior intelligence to debunk the medical mysteries surrounding his patients. It should be noted that although House is remarkably intelligent, he isn’t very likable. If he’s not bullying his very poorly patients, he’s usually sexually harassing his boss, Dr. Cuddy. When compared to the ever-charming and swoon-worthy Derek Shepherd, it’s easy to see that the men couldn’t be more different.
Yet, a lot of audiences will be shocked to hear that Patrick Dempsey auditioned for the role of Gregory House just shortly after he auditioned for Grey’s Anatomy. The actor was adamant that he wasn’t going to land the part of Derek Shepherd, mostly because he felt quite insecure about his acting abilities and looks. Although he obviously didn’t get the part, Dempsey shouldn’t feel too bad because he had a lot of tough competition. Apparently, the casting process for this role was incredibly arduous, and a lot of very recognizable actors threw their hats in the ring. After showcasing his dramatic acting skills in Rescue Me, Dennis Leary tried out for the role, as did David Cross from Arrested Development. Thus, it’s clear to see that the team was looking for a more comedic figure, and at that time, Dempsey was only associated with rom-coms like Can’t Buy Me Love and sitcoms like Will & Grace.
That being said, a lot of fans find it strange that Hugh Laurie managed to secure the part of House, especially given his past work as an actor. Before he had finished his final year of university, Laurie had already received numerous accolades for his comedic work and was already making plans to produce some of his most popular sketches for TV. Most notably, Laurie was often tied to his comedic partner, Stephen Fry, so it was quite rare to see him on his own. Yet, while he was in Nambia filming Flight of the Phoenix, he produced an audition tape for the show. Ironically, House MD’s executive producer, Bryan Singer, had no idea that Laurie was putting on an American accent and was intrigued by his unusual tone. In turn, although Dempsey and a lot of other actors didn’t land the role of House, it’s not like Hugh Laurie was a conventional pick either.
He Also Tried Out for Robert Chase
House talking to ChaseImage via Universal Television
Although it could be argued that Patrick Dempsey wouldn’t be able to pull off House’s sardonic sense of humor, a lot of fans believed that he had a decent chance of playing Robert Chase. At times, Chase was labeled House’s Yes Man because he would follow the doctor’s orders blindly, no matter how awful they seemed. Yet, he also had a very attractive boyish charm, which made him a keen heartthrob throughout the show. Dempsey auditioned for this part as well as Gregory House as a way to get his hands on a secure sense of income, especially after a string of rejections and failed TV pilots.
For a lot of people, this seems quite surprising. At this point, Dempsey was known for his work on rom-coms, making him a key love interest for viewers. Plus, he was well-known in America, unlike Spencer, who had only worked on a few US films at this point, such as Winning London with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. However, it seems that the casting team didn’t think that Dempsey was suitable for this part either.
Jesse Spencer, who managed to play Robert Chase on the show, wasn’t that keen on the role at first and got the wrong of the stick. His agent suggested that he try out for the show, and he just assumed that it would be similar to General Hospital. Since Spencer got his first big break as Billy Kennedy on the iconic series Neighbours, it makes sense that he would want to move over to another soap opera. Of course, when he auditioned for the show, he realized that House, MD was more of a comedy-drama than a long-running drama. Spencer was keen to add a bit more of himself to the role and convinced the producers to make Robert Chase Australian.
Fans Believe That Dempsey Was Made for Grey’s Anatomy
While it’s fun for fans to imagine Patrick Dempsey limping through Princeton-Plainsboro with a face like thunder, it’s evident that everything worked out in the end because he finally landed the role of Derek Shepherd. Arguably, Dempsey took to this role like a duck to water and instantly showcased the doctor’s charisma and passion. This doesn’t mean that Dr. Shepherd is perfect. In fact, he’s far from it. Yet, Dempsey was able to really tap into the character’s biggest fears and exemplified his flawed three-dimensional nature. Of course, it would be wrong to even mention Derek without discussing his intoxicating chemistry with Meredith Grey. While the pair experienced a ton of issues throughout their relationship, they still managed to be one of TV’s most memorable couples.
But, House MD should also be praised for its cast, especially with regard to Hugh Laurie. It’s important for international fans to recognize that Laqurie has very strong ties to the British comedy scene. Alongside his sketches with Stephen Fry, he played a range of British characters in sitcoms like Blackadder and The Young Ones. He’s also incredibly upper-class, boasting an incredibly advanced education.
While that doesn’t impact his acting, it’s vital that audiences realize that Laurie and House lead very opposing lives. However, the comedian managed to tackle this gritty role with ease and later became synonymous with the doctor. Nowadays, a lot of British comedians, like James Corden and Jack Whitehall, have broken into America. In contrast, it could be argued that Laurie spearheaded a lucrative trend of British actors spreading their wings and playing a range of unusual roles across the pond.
Hugh Laurie filmed his audition for House, MD in a hotel bathroom because it was the only space with good lighting.
A similar thing could be said about Jesse Spencer. The actor has been working since he was in his early teens and did very well to maintain a very innocent and squeaky-clean image. Although Neighbours dealt with the same hard-hitting topics that any other soap deals with, it occurred pre-watershed, so it was still quite tame. As the actor grew and matured, he secured a plethora of similar roles, but House, MD changed everything. Overnight, the baby-faced young actor was able to showcase his more adult side, indulging in risqué storylines and character arcs. Thus, this alluring and sometimes absurd medical show managed to take the face of Australian soap operas and transform him into the face of fast-paced US dramas.
Instead of comparing these shows, it may be more useful to explore their successes within the medical drama genre. Before House, MD and Grey’s Anatomy, ER stood at the forefront of the TV industry. Again, this show introduced audiences to a plethora of hit stars, including George Clooney, Alex Kingston, and Eriq La Salle, but it didn’t have the same long-lasting impact as its successors. Grey’s Anatomy boasts 21 seasons on TV and is one of the most streamed shows in the world. With regard to House, MD, even though the show ended in 2012, fans are still crying out for some sort of reboot or spin-off. So, even though Patrick Dempsey didn’t get the part of Dr. Gregory House or Dr. Robert Chase, it seems that both House MD and Grey’s Anatomy still received their dream casts.
