Every year, there are some awards and honors we just love to keep up with. And while those include the Oscars, Golden Globes and the Grammy Awards, there’s one that happened this week that you might not be aware of: People magazine‘s “Sexiest Man Alive!”
For those who don’t know, the celebrity magazine gets together every year and selects their “Sexiest Man Alive.” Whether they’re Hollywood veterans like Pierce Brosnan in 2001 and Richard Gere in 1999, to newcomers in the industry, like Michael B. Jordan in 2020 and Jude Law in 2004, their choice always solidifies the actor, musician, athlete and one-time politician as a force to be reckoned with!
For 2024, the lucky guy, John Krasinski, was revealed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Nov. 12. “I thought it was a prank and when they told me and now I’m sure of it,” he joked to Colbert.
In honor of the big announcement, take a walk down memory lane and see who’s been given the title over the years. From 1985 to 2023, check out Hollywood’s sexiest men over the years below!
A version of this article was published in November 2015.
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson was awarded the very first “Sexiest Man Alive” title in 1985. That same year, he starred in Max Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon was the second “Sexiest Man Alive” in history in 1986. Among his projects at the time were Prince of Bel Air, St. Elsewhere and Deliberate Stranger.
After winning the title, Harmon admitted he didn’t totally see it. “All I see is a bunch of fake teeth and football scars,” he told the outlet.
Harry Hamlin
With his starring role in L.A. Law, Harry Hamlin soon found himself as one of the most talked about men in Hollywood. In 1987, that was solidified with his very own “Sexiest Man Alive” title.
“In those days, I was the third one, and in those days they didn’t tell you,” Hamlin told People about his reaction at the time. “I mean, they just sprang it on you.”
John F. Kennedy Jr.
One of the few non-actors to be named “Sexiest Man Alive”, John F. Kennedy Jr. earned the title in 1988.
Over ten years later, the politician and journalist tragically passed away in a plane crash in 1999.
Sean Connery
Best known as the very first James Bond, Sean Connery made history when he was named “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1989 at age 60. “For once, I’m speechless,” the actor told People. “It’ll all be downhill from here!”
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise was awarded the coveted title in 1990 when he was 28. Knowing how successful he’s been in the industry since, we’re shocked he was named it only once!
Patrick Swayze
Starring in the hit movie Ghost with Demi Moore really upped Patrick Swayze’s sex appeal. He won the title in 1991.
“He has a very sweet, gentle, kind heart, and those southern manners,” Moore told People of her co-star. “But he’s also got a very rugged, animalistic physique.”
Nick Nolte
The eccentric actor has changed a lot since 1992, but his role in Prince of Tides helped him earn the “Sexiest” title.
Cindy Crawford & Richard Gere
Instead of the “Sexiest Man Alive” title, People awarded exes Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere the “Sexiest Couple Alive” title in 1993.
Crawford and Gere were married from 1991 to 1995.
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt first earned the “Sexiest” title in 1995 after starring in Legends of the Fall and Interview with the Vampire. A movie star in the making!
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington became the first Black actor to earn the title of “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1996. “I don’t take myself too seriously,” he told People at the time. “I don’t stop in the mirror and go, ‘Hey, Sexy Man.'”
George Clooney
Before George Clooney’s silver fox era even began, the actor was given the “Sexiest Man Alive” title in 1997. At the time, in addition to starring in E.R., Clooney also starred in movies like The Peacemaker, Batman & Robin and From Duck Till Dawn.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford’s career is still going strong after becoming the “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1998.
“I never feel sexy,” Ford admitted to People at the time. “I have a distant relationship with the mirror.”
Richard Gere
After being half of the “Sexiest Couple Alive” title, Richard Gere won the “Sexiest Man Alive” title all by himself in 1999.
“He walked like a biker, and that attracted me,” one of Gere’s exes, designer Diane Von Furstenberg, told People at the time. “I knew I was going to get my hands on him. I seduced him.”
Brad Pitt
Speaking of double winners, Brad Pitt won the title for a second time at the turn of the century in 2000. At the time, he had just gotten married to his first wife, Jennifer Aniston. The two were together until 2005.
Pierce Brosnan
Also known for playing James Bond, Pierce Brosnan was crowned the “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2001. If you’ve seen his Bond movies, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day and Golden Eye, then you know exactly why.
Ben Affleck
Oscar-winner Ben Affleck was named “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2002.
“Chicks gravitate to him,” Affleck’s friend and director Kevin Smith told People at the time. “The word on the street is that he’s the ideal man, chatty, gorgeous, generous and intelligent.”
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp was “Sexiest Man Alive” twice, his first time around was in 2003.
At the time, Depp was still in the depths of being Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. “Life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all!” he told the magazine.
Jude Law
In 2004, British actor Jude Law was given the title “Sexiest Man Alive.”
“He’s the most beautiful man who ever walked the earth — an absolutely perfect oil painting,” said Law’s I Heart Huckabees co-star Naomi Watts.
Matthew McConaughey
Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey became the “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2005.
“Wait until you see the roles I could take after this,” he joked to People at the time. “You’re going to see my gut hanging over, plus 22 [lbs.] It’ll be a whole new kind of sexy!”
George Clooney
George Clooney won his second “Sexiest Man Alive” title in 2006. That same year, he won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Syriana.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon’s performance in the crime thriller The Departed and the action-packed Bourne franchise helped him earn the title of “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2007. “You’ve given an aging suburban dad the ego boost of a lifetime,” Damon told the magazine at the time.
Damon and his wife Luciana Damon are parents to four daughters: Alexia, Isabella, Gia and Stella.
Hugh Jackman
The multi-talented Hugh Jackman was named “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2008 when he was 40. That same year, he starred in one of his most famous roles alongside fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman in Australia.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp continued being one of the most handsome actors in Hollywood throughout the 2000s, landing him with another “Sexiest Man” title in 2009.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds was crowned “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2010.
“The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers,” Reynolds joked to People.
“The sexiest thing about Canadians is that there’s an inherent ability to be self-deprecating,” he then explained. “That has served me well in my career and personal life.”
Bradley Cooper
Known for his roles in movies like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, Bradley Cooper was named “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2011.
“I think it’s really cool that a guy who doesn’t look like a model can have this [title],” Cooper, who had just starred in The Hangover at the time, told People. “I think I’m a decent-looking guy. Sometimes I can look great, and other times I look horrifying.”
Channing Tatum
Being Magic Mike helped Channing Tatum earn the title of “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2012.
“My first thought was, ‘Y’all are messing with me,’” Tatum told People of his reaction.
At the time, Tatum was married to his ex, Jenna Dewan. “I told Jenna after we’d been in the bathtub washing our dogs because they’d gotten skunked,” he detailed. “Yeah, she calls me [the Sexiest Man Alive] now.”
The two went their separate ways in 2019.
Adam Levine
Best known for fronting the band Maroon 5 and for being a longtime judge on The Voice, Adam Levine graced the cover of People in 2013.
“As a musician, you have fantasies that you want to win Grammys, but I didn’t really think that this was on the table,” Levine told People at the time, per CNN. “I was just amazed and stunned and it almost seemed like they were kidding, but they weren’t, so that’s cool.”
At the time, he had also just gotten engaged to his wife, Behati Prinsloo.
Chris Hemsworth
Playing Thor certainly helped Chris Hemsworth earn 2014’s “Sexiest” title.
“I think you’ve bought me a couple of weeks of bragging rights around the house,” Hemsworth, who shares three kids with wife Elsa Pataky, told People. “I can just say to her, ‘Now remember, this is what the people think, so I don’t need to do the dishes anymore, I don’t need to change nappies. I’m above that. I’ve made it now.’ ”
David Beckham
David Beckham became the first athlete to grace the cover of People as “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2015.
“I never feel that I’m an attractive, sexy person,” Beckham humbly told the magazine at the time. “I mean I like to wear nice clothes and nice suits and look and feel good, but I don’t ever think of myself that way.”
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was all kinds of ecstatic when he was honored with the “Sexiest Man Alive” title in 2016.
“I said, ‘That’s awesome.’ And then what went through my mind was just how cool and exciting it is,” Johnson told People. “And then I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve pretty much reached the pinnacle.’ I’m not quite too sure where we go from here. I’ve done it all, this is it.”
As fans of Johnson know well, he’s been non-stop ever since.
Blake Shelton
In 2017, People gave one of their most controversial “Sexiest Man Alive” titles to date by picking country music star Blake Shelton.
“I can’t wait to shove this up Adam’s a–,” Shelton joked to People, referring to his friend and fellow The Voice judge Adam Levine. “As proud as I am and honored that you guys asked me, that’s really the only thing I care about.”
Idris Elba
As one of Hollywood’s most handsome men, fans were surely excited when Idris Elba was named 2018’s “Sexiest Man Alive.”
“I was like, ‘Come on, no way. Really?’” Elba told People of his initial reaction. “Looked in the mirror, I checked myself out. I was like, ‘Yeah, you are kind of sexy today.’ But to be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise — an ego boost for sure.”
John Legend
John Legend may be an EGOT winner, but he wasn’t exactly expecting the “Sexiest Man Alive” title in 2019.
“I was excited, but I was a little scared at the same time because it’s a lot of pressure,” Legend told People. “Everyone’s going to be picking me apart to see if I’m sexy enough to hold this title. I’m [also] following Idris Elba, which is not fair and is not nice to me!”
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan was quite chuffed to be joining the “Sexiest Man Alive” club in 2020.
“It’s a cool feeling,” Jordan told People. “You know, everybody always made that joke, like, ‘Mike, this is the one thing you’re probably not going to get.’ But it’s a good club to be a part of.”
Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd surely got the most humble “Sexiest Man Alive” award when he won his title in 2021.
“I do have an awareness, enough to know that when people hear that I’d be picked for this, they would say, ‘What?'” Rudd told People. “This is not false humility. There are so many people that should get this before me.”
Chris Evans
Speaking of Marvel superheroes, Chris Evans won the award a year later in 2022.
“My mom will be so happy,” Evans told People of his mom, Lisa. “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”
Patrick Dempsey
In 2023, Patrick Dempsey, aka Grey’s Anatomy’s iconic McDreamy, won his long-deserved “Sexiest Man Alive” title.
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” Dempsey told People. “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.”
Dempsey then talked about the Dempsey Center, a foundation he created in honor of his late mom to support cancer patients and their loved ones.
John Krasinski
John Krasinski was quite shocked when he got the news he was the 2024 “Sexiest Man Alive.”
“Just immediate blackout, actually. Zero thoughts,” he told the outlet. “Other than maybe I’m being punked. That’s not how I wake up, thinking, ‘Is this the day that I’ll be asked to be Sexiest Man Alive?’ And yet it was the day you guys did it.”
“You guys have really raised the bar for me,” he added.
Leave a Comment