Rob Lowe has no regrets about turning down Grey’s Anatomy’s McDreamy role

He nearly reinvigorated his career with a role on the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy before turning down the role of McDreamy.

But Rob Lowe said he didn’t have any regrets about passing on the now-iconic part in an interview with Variety that was published Thursday.

‘This is what longevity, experience and recovery give you. There are no accidents,’ the 56-year-old actor said of turning down the part. 

No regrets: Rob Lowe opened up to Variety about why it was the right move for him to turn down the role of McDreamy on Grey’s Anatomy in an interview published Thursday; seen in 2019

‘Whatever decision you come to, if you come to it from the right place, it’s never wrong,’ he continued.

Patrick Dempsey would go on to fill the role of Dr. Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd, which made him a household name at the height of Grey’s Anatomy’s success.

The show, which premiered on ABC in 2005 with Ellen Pompeo starring as Meredith Grey, is currently on hiatus in the midst of its 17th season.

But Lowe wasn’t even convinced that Grey’s Anatomy would have been as big of a hit if he played McDreamy, and the role might not have been as popular either. 

What might have been: Patrick Dempsey would go on to play Dr. Derek 'McDreamy' Shepherd opposite Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, which made him a household name at the height of Grey's Anatomy's success

What might have been: Patrick Dempsey would go on to play Dr. Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd opposite Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey, which made him a household name at the height of Grey’s Anatomy’s success

Not the same: 'Me in that part isn’t as interesting as Patrick in that part,' Lowe explained. 'If it’d been me (the fans) wouldn’t have called me 'McDreamy,' they would have called me Rob Lowe'; seen in 2019

Not the same: ‘Me in that part isn’t as interesting as Patrick in that part,’ Lowe explained. ‘If it’d been me (the fans) wouldn’t have called me ‘McDreamy,’ they would have called me Rob Lowe’; seen in 2019

‘Me in that part isn’t as interesting as Patrick in that part,’ he explained. ‘If it’d been me (the fans) wouldn’t have called me ‘McDreamy,’ they would have called me Rob Lowe.’

But by turning the role down, the former Brat Pack member was free to play the comic role of Chris Traeger on NBC’s Parks And Recreation.

He joined the series as the overzealous state auditor Chris Traeger, who made ‘literally’ a popular catch phrase.

Lowe’s character was initially a recurring role in 2010’s second season, but he was bumped up to the main cast for the third season and remained on the series through its penultimate season in 2014.

‘Had I done Grey’s, I wouldn’t have been in Parks And Recreation. That alone for me is enough,’ he said.

Worth it: 'Had I done Grey's, I wouldn’t have been in Parks And Recreation. That alone for me is enough,' he continued; publicity still for Parks And Recreation

Worth it: ‘Had I done Grey’s, I wouldn’t have been in Parks And Recreation. That alone for me is enough,’ he continued; publicity still for Parks And Recreation

Laugh riot: He joined the series as the overzealous state auditor Chris Traeger, who made 'literally' a popular catch phrase; still from Parks And Recreation

Laugh riot: He joined the series as the overzealous state auditor Chris Traeger, who made ‘literally’ a popular catch phrase; still from Parks And Recreation

The role helped Lowe expand his comedic talents after establishing himself as a strong dramatic actor.

‘I’m lucky enough to be on both lists — the comedy list and the drama list, which is good. It’s good not to be pigeonholed,’ he said. 

Lowe currently leads the Ryan Murphy series 9-1-1: Lone Star for Fox.

The show is a spin-off of the network’s 9-1-1 series and focuses on firefighters, police and paramedics responding to life-threatening situations.

The St. Elmo’s Fire star leads the cast as Owen Strand, a firefighter from Manhattan who relocates to Austin, Texas.

Complicating his attempts to keep up with his demanding career is a cancer battle likely brought on by his exposure to the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. 

New role: Lowe currently leads the Ryan Murphy series 9-1-1: Lone Star for Fox, in which he plays a New York firefighter transplanted to Austin, Texas

New role: Lowe currently leads the Ryan Murphy series 9-1-1: Lone Star for Fox, in which he plays a New York firefighter transplanted to Austin, Texas

‘The Ryan Murphy World special sauce is what makes doing a semi-procedural interesting for me as an actor,’ Lowe explained of the series, which tends to feature bizarre emergency situations.

‘We have all of the elements of the genre, but in this iteration there are elements of the unexpected. It can be authentic and honest and then become almost absurdist. We do wild tone swings. It keeps it fresh for me.’

He was also attracted to the show because of its focus on ‘real-life heroes,’ as opposed to the more fantastical superheroes currently in vogue.

‘I think it’s a good thing to spotlight real-life heroes,’ Lowe says. ‘They may not wear masks and capes, but their stories are every bit as compelling. Probably more so.’

Not stale: Lowe likes the show because it has 'elements of the unexpected,' adding, 'It can be authentic and honest and then become almost absurdist. We do wild tone swings. It keeps it fresh for me'

Not stale: Lowe likes the show because it has ‘elements of the unexpected,’ adding, ‘It can be authentic and honest and then become almost absurdist. We do wild tone swings. It keeps it fresh for me’