Every Thursday, Patrick Dempsey, 40, sends hearts aflutter as Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, ABC’s emotionally drenched medical soap opera. Playing the role of a romantically conflicted brain surgeon, the once-struggling actor has not only resuscitated his career (he considered becoming a professional home remodeler before his Grey’s audition), but he’s made the word McDreamy part of the national lexicon.

No wonder more than 25 million fans tuned in to the third season premiere on September 21, when McDreamy professed his love for his intern, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo). “Patrick has always been an incredibly down-to-earth, kind person,” Debra Messing, his onetime Will & Grace costar, tells Us. “He has been around for a long time and has his head on his shoulders. I could not be more thrilled for him.”

Dempsey’s offscreen life is also booming. He and his wife of seven years, celebrity makeup artist and former hairstylist Jillian Dempsey, 40, are expecting twin boys. (The couple have a daughter, Tallulah, 4.) “I’m really thrilled,” Patrick said on Ryan Seacrest’s L.A. radio show September 20. “My wife looks great, we¹re excited, my daughter’s happy and we’re going to have a very big family very soon.”

Indeed, Dempsey’s marriage is the stuff McDreamy can only, well, dream of. “I value my relationship even more now,” Dempsey told Us in March. “It’s made me successful, and I am very fortunate that I don¹t lose sight of that.”

What learning disability did Dempsey have to overcome in order to become a successful actor? What’s in store for Dempsey’s career? What plot twists are up next on Grey’s Anatomy? For more details on the actor’s early rise and fall, his career comeback, and once turbulent love life, check out the current issue of Us, on newsstands this week.

Us Weekly

Kate Bosworth, gets dialed in (perhaps to new guy James Rousseau?) while shopping solo at the Marc Jacobs store in New York’s SoHo neighborhood on Tuesday.

Whether she’s wearing her heart on her hoodie or not, Nicole Richie makes it clear she enjoys spending time with boyfriend Brody Jenner as the couple head to Malibu’s Coogies Beach Café for lunch Tuesday.

Janet Jackson gives partygoers something to talk about Tuesday – that dazzling canary diamond ring on her left hand – at the album release party for 20 Y.O. in New York City. So is she engaged to beau Jermaine Dupri, who was with her last night at the club Room Service? Her rep says no, but when asked about the ring, Jackson responded: “That’s what they’re saying!”

It’s no secret Lost’s Dominic Monaghan is a man from Manchester – and proud of it – as he and girlfriend Evangeline Lilly take a sunny stroll in Hawaii on Saturday.

Teri Hatcher and daughter Emerson, 8, take to high speeds Saturday on Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Anaheim, Calif., the day before Desperate Housewives’ third season premiered. This summer the pair enjoyed another special trip: an Alaskan vacation.

Christina Milian goes for the (fire)works as she celebrates her 25th birthday at Miami’s Prive nightclub Saturday, where she partied with her hip-hop producer boyfriend Dre.

Kate Bosworth steps out – and gets close – again with the new mystery man in her life in New York City’s Greenwich Village on Monday.

Edit: The “mystery man” is apparently British model James Rousseau, who also accompanied Kate to the Marc Jacobs fashion show not long ago.

Nick Lachey grants his Canadian fans’ wishes during a Monday appearance on the music-video show MuchMusic in Toronto. The singer is currently on a North American tour to promote his album, What’s Left of Me.

Ashlee gets a hand from big sister Jessica (who sat in the front row cheering squad alongside parents Joe and Tina) on opening night. After the show, Jessica said of Ashlee’s performance, “Perfect. What could be better than that?”