Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey named Sexiest Man Alive

It’s been almost two decades since Patrick Dempsey sauntered onto the small screen as neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy (even longer since his breakthrough role as an endearing outcast in 1987’s Can’t Buy Me Love).

His heartthrob status created such a fan frenzy that he graced the pages of this very issue countless times over the years. Now he’s taking home the Sexiest Man Alive crown.

“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” the Maine native, 57, tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”

Closest to his heart is the Dempsey Center, which he founded in honor of his late mom to support cancer patients and their loved ones.