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Patrick Dempsey as Ronald Miller in one of the climactic scenes of the movie "Can't Buy Me Love" in 1987. Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092718/mediaviewer/rm509547264/ (May be subject to copyright) |
He will always be Ronald Miller to me, and Jann Arden agreese. Yesterday “People” magazine announced Patrick Dempsey was named the “Sexiest Man Alive”. It’s not really a surprise for an actor dubbed “McDreamy” when he was on “Grey’s Anatomy”, playing sexy brain surgeon Derek Shepherd.
Yet, whenever I see Patrick Dempsey, I think of “Can’t Buy Me Love”, one of my favourite movies of all time. Dempsey plays Ronald Miller, a nerd in high school who mows lawn to save up enough money to buy a telescope. Just when he is about to close the deal, he sees Cindy Mancini, the girl of his dreams at the mall. She is in trouble and in need of $1,000. So, he makes her a deal. He gives her the money but for one month she has to pretend to like him and go out with him.
His theory is that hanging around with her will make him popular – and he is right – to a point.
I had “The Social” on today, when I was home recovering from the side effects of getting flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time. They were talking about Patrick Dempsey and his role as “McDreamy”, when Jann Arden said “I loved Patrick Dempsey in the movie he was in, driving the tractor around.” Someone else added that was in 1987.
I could not agree more Jann.
The movie
The last days of Grade 12 were winding down when I went to see “Can’t Buy Me Love”, and the movie just stuck with me. Although the premise was a little outlandish, it captured the same feelings I had in high school. I loved it so much, I went and saw it again a few weeks later with another friend
The last days of Grade 12 were winding down when I went to see “Can’t Buy Me Love”, and the movie just stuck with me. Although the premise was a little outlandish, it captured the same feelings I had in high school. I loved it so much, I went and saw it again a few weeks later with another friend
Patrick Dempsey was really quite good in the role of Ronald Miller, especially in the way he expressed his emotions. Whether he was hurt, angry, and just being a jerk, his performance was genuine and engaging.
Touching performance
That wasn't the first time I had seen Patrick Dempsey though. The first time was in a Disney Sunday Movie in 1986 called “A Fighting Choice”. He plays a high school student suffering from epilepsy. He ultimately takes his parents to court to win the right to have experimental brain surgery that may help with his seizures.
That wasn't the first time I had seen Patrick Dempsey though. The first time was in a Disney Sunday Movie in 1986 called “A Fighting Choice”. He plays a high school student suffering from epilepsy. He ultimately takes his parents to court to win the right to have experimental brain surgery that may help with his seizures.
What I will always remember is how vividly he portrayed having an epileptic seizure. It was unsettling, just like a seizure is. I actually recall thinking about that role when I saw him at the start of “Can’t Buy Me Love”.
He was already showing he had some good acting chops.
The rest of the decade
I only saw Patrick Dempsey in one other movie in the’80s. In “Loverboy” in 1989, he plays a pizza delivery man, who starts an unlikely escort service with the likes of Kirstie Alley, Barbara Carrera and Kim Miyori. The movie wasn’t that good or bad, but I just couldn’t stop thinking, “He’s not Ronald Miller.”
I only saw Patrick Dempsey in one other movie in the’80s. In “Loverboy” in 1989, he plays a pizza delivery man, who starts an unlikely escort service with the likes of Kirstie Alley, Barbara Carrera and Kim Miyori. The movie wasn’t that good or bad, but I just couldn’t stop thinking, “He’s not Ronald Miller.”
Beyond that, I did not recognize many of the other movies he was in during the 1980s, which were “The Stuff” and “Heaven Help Us” in 1985; “Meatballs III: Summer Job” in 1986; “In the Mood” in 1987; “Some Girls” and “In a Shallow Grave” in 1988; and “Happy Together” in 1989.
The years after
Patrick Dempsey would keep on acting in films, such as “Sweet Home Alabama”, and television where he had some acclaimed guest roles in “The Practice”, “Will and Grace” and “Once and Again”. He ultimately hit stardom in “Grey’s Anatomy” where he played Derek Shepherd from 2005 to 2015.
Patrick Dempsey would keep on acting in films, such as “Sweet Home Alabama”, and television where he had some acclaimed guest roles in “The Practice”, “Will and Grace” and “Once and Again”. He ultimately hit stardom in “Grey’s Anatomy” where he played Derek Shepherd from 2005 to 2015.
Parting thoughts
To be honest, when I started watching “Grey’s Anatomy” I remember thinking where had Patrick Dempsey been all these years? Admittedly, by 2005, I was busy working long hours and not watching a lot of television and fewer movies.
To be honest, when I started watching “Grey’s Anatomy” I remember thinking where had Patrick Dempsey been all these years? Admittedly, by 2005, I was busy working long hours and not watching a lot of television and fewer movies.
Still, even then, all I could think was, “This is the guy from ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.”
I would suspect, after 10 years as Derek Shepherd, many would consider that Patrick Dempsey’s signature role.
For me, it will always be Ronald Miller.
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