Did you know Rob Lowe almost played Dr. Derek Shepard on Grey's Anatomy? The role, of course, went to Patrick Dempsey after Lowe passed on the opportunity. Despite long-running medical drama making Dempsey a household name, Lowe has no regrets about turning down ABC all those years ago.
“This is what longevity, experience and recovery give you," Lowe told Variety about his decision not to star on Grey's Anatomy. "There are no accidents. Whatever decision you come to, if you come to it from the right place, it’s never wrong.”
Instead of taking the role of Dr. Shepard, Lowe starred in the short-lived series Dr. Vegas. Also a medical drama, Dr. Vegas followed Lowe as Dr. Billy Grant—the in-house physician at a hotel-casino. The series only lasted one season.
“Me in that part isn’t as interesting as Patrick in that part. If it’d been me [the fans] wouldn’t have called me ‘McDreamy,’ they would have called me Rob Lowe,” the actor continued. “Had I done Grey’s, I wouldn’t have been in Parks and Recreation. That alone for me is enough.”
Do you think Lowe would have made a good Dr. Shepard?
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