Why Rob Lowe doesn't regret turning down 'Grey's Anatomy'

By George Costantino

Rob Lowe has an impressive list of TV credits that includes "The West Wing," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Parks and Recreation" in addition to his most recent role on "9-1-1: Lone Star" -- with one notable misstep.

The 56-year-old actor passed on what became a career-making role for Patrick Dempsey, playing surgeon Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on the Shonda Rhimes hit "Grey's Anatomy."

However, Lowe said he has no regrets about his decision to pass on the project. He told Variety that he has learned to stay focused on the future, rather than the past.

"This is what longevity, experience and recovery give you. There are no accidents," he said. "Whatever decision you come to, if you come to it from the right place, it's never wrong."

Frank Ockenfels/ABC

The original cast of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" from right, Patrick Dempsey as "Derek Shepherd," Ellen Pompeo as "Meredith Grey," Isaiah Washington as "Preston Burke," Sandra Oh as "Cristina Yang," T.R. Knight as "George O' Malley," Katherine Heigl as "Isobel 'Izzie' Stevens," Justin Chambers as "Alex Karev," Chandra Wilson as "Miranda Bailey," and James Pickens, Jr. as "Richard Webber."

In fact, Lowe's said he's not even sure he was right for the show in the first place.

"Me in that part isn't as interesting as Patrick in that part," he insisted. "If it'd been me, [the fans] wouldn't have called me 'McDreamy,' they would have called me Rob Lowe."

Besides, Lowe said, passing on "Grey's Anatomy" gave him the chance to show off his comedy chops, playing the eternally optimistic government official Chris Traeger on "Parks and Recreation."

"Had I done 'Grey's,' I wouldn't have been in 'Parks and Recreation,'" he said. "That alone for me is enough."