Ellen Pompeo Isn’t Married to McDreamy in Real Life! Meet the Grey’s Star’s Husband Chris Ivery

Chris Is a Talented Record Producer

For more than two decades, Chris worked as a record producer and executive in the music industry. During that time, he helped cowrite Rihanna‘s 2010 song “Cheers (Drink to That).”

Chris Also Works as a Clothing Designer

After being in music for 25 years, Ellen’s spouse tried his hand in designing clothing. In 2019, he launched his clothing line called STLA. At the time, the actress told Us Weekly she was “so proud” of Chris’ achievement.

“It’s inspirational to change careers at 50,” she praised. “He’s been in the music business for 25 years, and he changed careers at 50. And he killed it. I mean, knocked it out of the park. It’s amazing! So, for anybody who feels they’re stuck, you can change your career at any age.”

Chris and Ellen Love Date Nights

When it comes to spending quality time, the duo are all about cuddling up on the couch at their Los Angeles residence. “We go out to dinner sometimes, but date nights really kind of happen inside at home. And actually, we both go to bed pretty early, so we do a lot of lunch dates too,” the doting mom told People.

Chris Isn’t the Biggest ‘Grey’s’ Fan

Though the songwriter insists he’s Ellen’s “biggest fan,” he isn’t one to binge Grey’s Anatomy. “There was a time back in the day that I watched it a lot, but then I didn’t know if she had a lover,” he told Us Weekly in February 2017. “I’m really confident, but it’s awkward.”

Chris Had an Especially ‘Hard’ Time Watching Intimate Scenes

Understandably, Chris isn’t that interested in watching his wife take part in the steamy sex scenes in Grey’s Anatomy. Reflecting on her former onscreen romance with Patrick Dempsey, Ellen said her husband would get a little jealous.

“Poor guy had no idea what he was getting into,” she explained during an episode of the “Ladies First with Laura Brown” podcast in July. “I remember in the beginning it was really hard for him. He was like, ‘This is not what I signed up for. You go to work and make out with that. I like Patrick and everything, he’s a good dude, but like really?'”

Fortunately, Chris didn’t let it bother him too much. “He was really a trooper. He’s my favorite person,” Ellen gushed.

He Supports Her

During a March 2025 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Ellen further elaborated on why Chris did not really watch Grey’s.

“I mean, Chris really never watched the show,” she said. “It was better for him. He knew just not to watch. I was with him before Grey’s, so Grey’s kinda came out of nowhere for us, and I just think we were on this crazy ride that, we were just trying to hang on for dear life.”

She also opened up about keeping their marriage rather private over the years and how Chris supported her when she decided to exit the show.

“He’s a big reason how I got through all that, because he did understand, because he is cut from the same cloth as I am,” Ellen said. “[With] women in media, people see you and they have a certain idea about who you should be. And for me, people aren’t used to — probably people see me and they think they know who I am, and they don’t know that.”