Do we even need to elaborate? "Heated Rivalry" was the biggest show of the last 12 months, and it comes down to Storrie, 26, and Williams, 25, who perhaps have the best chemistry of anyone on TV, ever. We can't wait for season two of "the gay hockey show."

Pascal, 51, played easily the sexiest character in "Game of Thrones" history, Oberyn Martell (RIP, we miss you).

After making us all gasp every time he lifts his helmet in "The Mandalorian," it's high time for People to give him the respect he deserves.

Over the last two years, he's starred in "Materialists," "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," "The Last of Us," "Eddington," "The Mandalorian and Grogu," "Behemoth!," and, still to come, "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars." Please, recognize him while the iron is hot (literally).

Mescal, 30, has been a sex symbol ever since we saw him on our screens for the first time in 2020's "Normal People." Even his gold chain had its own Instagram account.

His career post-"Normal People" has shown he's anything but a one-hit wonder, though. He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Aftersun," and played yet more romantic leads in "All of Us Strangers" and "Hamnet."

We'd also be remiss not to mention how great he looked in "Gladiator II."

But since he wasn't named Sexiest Man Alive this year, we can only wait as his career continues to skyrocket.

Garfield, 43, has had a wild last few years, between stunning us all with his amazing singing voice in "Tick, Tick... Boom!," somehow making us all nostalgic for his "Spider-Man" movies that are famously mediocre — they live and die by the charm of Garfield and Emma Stone — and his nomination for an Emmy for "Under the Banner of Heaven."

After taking a break, he returned to star in the alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking film "We Live in Time," broke the internet by appearing on "Chicken Shop Date," and took everyone's breath away with his new long hair.

Later this year, he'll play OpenAI founder Sam Altman in the Luca Guadagnino film "Artificial." Not the sexiest role, so maybe 2027.

Between "Point Break," "John Wick," "The Matrix," "The Replacements," "My Own Private Idaho," "Speed," "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," "Something's Gotta Give," and even last year's "Good Fortune," Reeves deserves recognition for a lifetime of sexiness.

He's just an overall great person, and for that, he should be rewarded. Also, he's somehow 62 years old and still looks like this.

Kaluuya, 37, has been giving teenagers everywhere butterflies since his "Skins" days. But his breakout role in "Get Out" catapulted him to a new level of stardom. Sure, Kaluuya already has an Oscar for "Judas and the Black Messiah," but we can't rest until he's been named Sexiest Man Alive.

This video went viral, and for good reason. Isaac, our reigning short king, is able to make every single thing he does sexy. It's just who he is.

A quick search on X of "Oscar Isaac short king" yields thousands of tweets. So give this 47-year-old star what he deserves after the disastrous "Rise of Skywalker" and declare him the Sexiest Man Alive.

Plus, he officially entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with "Moon Knight," which has basically become a prerequisite for the People crown.

What a few years it's been for Glen Powell. After stealing our hearts in 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick," the 38-year-old knew he had to capitalize on our love.

And that he did, with "Anyone But You," "Hit Man," "Twisters," "How to Make a Killing," "The Running Man," and "Chad Powers." We'll soon see a true test of his box office power with "The Comeback Kid" next year.

Choosing him seemed like a no-brainer, but alas.

The love for 30-year-old Chalamet only grows as he continues to take some pretty legendary fashion risks. Remember the shirtless Oscars moment? Or his backless jumpsuit at Cannes?

What else proves that Chalamet inspires a semi-unhinged fervor amongst fans? When footage from the set of "Wonka" leaked, the "Twonka" memes took over the internet, as Vulture reported.

The release of "Dune: Part Two, "A Complete Unknown," and "Marty Supreme" in the last two years proved Chalamet is a movie star, full stop. All three were hugely successful at the box office, and his performances garnered rave reviews — he even secured Oscar noms for two of them.

And who can forget that he was one of the main characters of the Knicks' championship run this year?

We'll be getting more Timmy this year, too; the highly anticipated "Dune: Part Three" hits theaters in December.

Many people were dubious when Butler, at that point best known for "The Carrie Diaries," was cast as Elvis Presley. They were all forced to eat their words when "Elvis" premiered in 2022 and Butler was crowned one of the internet's newest boyfriends.

Just watch him perform in the movie, and tell us we're wrong. He was even nominated for an Oscar.

The 35-year-old continued his hot streak by playing the absolutely unhinged Feyd Rautha in "Dune: Part Two" and a cult leader, Vernon, in "Eddington" before turning right around and playing heartthrobs in "The Bikeriders" and "Caught Stealing."

But the most recent thing that's taken our breath away are the photos taken on the set of "Miami Vice '85," in which Butler will play Detective Sonny Crockett (formerly played by other hotties Don Johnson and Colin Farrell).

Elordi has a sweet spot for playing toxic men — "The Kissing Booth," "Euphoria," "Saltburn," and "Priscilla" all come to mind — which is why it's so endearing to see him act shy in interviews like his 2023 appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

But we're still not over his turn as Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights." It's been almost a year, and it still has us in a chokehold. The scene when he comes back after becoming rich (and getting an iconic haircut)? Woah.

He's just 29, so we know that Elordi most likely has a long road of sexy roles ahead of him, but Heathcliff will be hard to beat.

Murphy, 50, has long been the thinking person's sexiest man alive, with his Irish accent and his intense on-screen energy.

But after starring in six seasons of the BBC series "Peaky Blinders" and his Oscar-winning performance in the blockbuster "Oppenheimer," Murphy finally seems to be getting what he deserves.

We doubt Murphy would ever actually accept this honor, but we still need to give him his (sexy) flowers.

Anyone who watched "Army Wives" back in the day knew that Brown was going to be big. It took a few years, but "The People vs. OJ Simpson" and "This Is Us" catapulted Brown, 50, onto the A-list. An Emmy win and, later, an Oscar nomination for "American Fiction" just solidified it.

If you're not watching "Paradise," tune in immediately.

As any '90s and 2000s TV viewer can tell you, Adam Brody as Seth Cohen on "The OC" was formative. But since the show ended, it was somewhat quiet for the 46-year-old.

That all changed when "Nobody Wants This" dropped on Netflix, bringing Brody-mania back with a vengeance as he played an achingly romantic rabbi willing to throw his career away for love. He remains amazing in season three, BTW.

Move over, Hot Priest. Hot Rabbi is here to stay.

Hey, Jude. Remember the World Cup? The nation of England certainly does — and is still fantasizing about the many, many goals the 23-year-old scored for the national team this summer.

It doesn't hurt that he's quite easy on the eyes.

Remember when Cavill, 43, appeared in a "Mission Impossible" film and appeared to "reload" his fists before punching Tom Cruise? We could never forget.

The last few years have been a bit up and down for Cavill, with a starring role in "The Witcher" for three seasons, which became one of Netflix's most popular shows — though he left the show — and taking on the mantle of Sherlock Holmes in "Enola Holmes" and its sequel.

We thought that his version of Superman was here to stay after a cameo in "Black Adam," but that turned out not to be true. The Sexiest Man Alive honor could be a perfect pick-me-up for Cavill after the back-to-back-to-back flops of "Black Adam," "Argylle," and "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare."

We also can't forget his short, but meaningful, cameo in "Deadpool & Wolverine," where he proved he can make any facial hair work.

It's not easy to step into the boots and cape of Superman, but Corenswet, 33, made it look like a breeze. Don't be surprised to see him on the cover whenever "Man of Tomorrow" is released in 2027.

In many ways, "F1" was essentially one former Sexiest Man Alive passing the torch to another future Sexiest Man Alive.

Idris, 35, has a long career ahead of him, including a role in the highly anticipated adaptation of "Children of Blood and Bone" in 2027, so we might need to wait until then.

One of our favorite clips to watch when we're in a bad mood is the Vanity Fair Lie Detector Test between sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning, when Elle becomes flustered at the mere mention of Black — and we can't blame her! A sense of humor is hot, and the 57-year-old has one in spades. And he can sing beautifully. What more do you need?

Plus, between "Minecraft," "Jumanji," "Kung Fu Panda," and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," he's done quite well for himself.

Besides his episode of "Modern Love," which People ranked as the best episode of the season, Patel, 36, has been killing it lately.

One of his most recent films, "The Green Knight," a medieval epic that Patel was top-billed in, was released in 2021. While the film might've left you confused, we definitely walked out knowing one thing: Patel is a star.

Patel also made his Wes Anderson debut on Netflix — hopefully, he'll be in more of Anderson's projects in the future.

In 2024, he starred in and directed the action thriller "Monkey Man." We love a multi-hyphenate.

And we already mentioned his hair.

It's shocking that he's never won — not after "The Notebook," not after "Crazy Stupid Love," not after "La La Land," not after the "Hey Girl" meme went viral, not after beating up 2022's Sexiest Man Alive (Chris Evans) in "The Gray Man," and not after making us get emotionally invested in a rock in "Project Hail Mary."

However, if playing the most lovable himbo of all time, Ken, in "Barbie" — complete with a song-and-dance sequence — wasn't enough for People, we don't know what is.

Maybe it's joining not only the "Star Wars" universe, but also the MCU in the next two years.

According to ET, the soon-to-be 46-year-old has actually turned it down before, but that humility only adds to the sexy vibe.

As any "Kim's Convenience" fan could've told you, Liu has always had his admirers. But now that the 37-year-old is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's reached a whole new level.

Whether it's in "Knives Out," "Someone Great," "Atlanta," "Judas and the Black Messiah," "The Harder They Fall," "Sorry to Bother You," "I Love Boosters," or even "Haunted Mansion," 35-year-old Stanfield is a magnetic presence on screen.

White, star of the Hulu sensation "The Bear," has long been a sex symbol — ask any fan of "Shameless."

But the 35-year-old is hitting his stride now, with five seasons as Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto and a recent turn as the Boss himself in "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" under his belt.

Benito's 2022 album "Un Verano Sin Ti" was nominated for multiple Latin Grammys and had the biggest streaming week for a Latin album ever. His 2023 album "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana," was also a huge hit, as was his 2025 album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" — honestly, People is behind the times on this one.

Even the NFL is on board! He headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show earlier this year.

The 32-year-old's style, good looks, musical talent, and personality all contribute to his sexiness — it's time to get on the Bad Bunny train, if you're not already.

Yeun has been popular since he starred on "The Walking Dead," but he's achieved more mainstream success recently. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2021 for his performance in "Minari." Soon after, he began voicing Mark Grayson in the hit Prime Video series "Invincible."

2023 was even bigger, with the Netflix series "Beef." The 42-year-old won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, and a Critics' Choice Award, among others, in 2024 for his performance as Danny. This year, he appeared in "The Rip" and "Animals" alongside Ben Affleck, and voiced Zuko in the new "Avatar: The Last Airbender" movie.

Ali's giant smile is infectious, and his voice is supremely smooth and soothing. What else can you ask from the Sexiest Man Alive? And, it's becoming clear that Ali, 52, is only going to get better with time.

Audiences had low expectations for "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves" in 2023. But we all should have known better — any movie that lives and dies by the charisma of Pine, 46, will be fine.

You can have Hemsworth, Evans, and Pratt. Pine will always be No. 1 in our hearts.

We've loved Jacinto, 39, since his days on "The Good Place" as the lovable himbo Jason Mendoza, but his role as The Stranger in "The Acolyte" reminded us how much we need him on screen.

Please see "Freakier Friday" to see how powerful Jacinto is.

Hartnett, 48, was one of the biggest crushes for anyone who was interested in men in the late '90s and 2000s, but he stepped back from Hollywood for years.

That is, until 2023, when he made a grand return in "Oppenheimer" and then kept it up with this year's thriller "Trap," which was one of the biggest hits of the summer.

Kyle Chandler, 61, has been a sex symbol ever since he walked onto the set of "Grey's Anatomy" in his bomb squad uniform 20 years ago. He remained one, of course, through "Friday Night Lights," but the HBO series "Lanterns" introduced him to a whole new generation of fans.

His costar, Pierre, is a newer addition to our lives, but is no less sexy. The 32-year-old is set to be a big part of the new DC Universe, appearing in "Man of Tomorrow," and we're quite thankful.

Editor's note: This story was originally published in November 2022 and was most recently updated in October 2026.

Noah Wyle rose to fame as Dr. John Carter in NBC's medical drama "ER," alongside former Sexiest Man Alive cover star George Clooney.

Wyle was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series at the Emmys several times in the 1990s, though he never won.

Two decades later, Wyle returned to the world of medical dramas as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch in HBO Max's "The Pitt" — and finally won his first Emmy for outstanding lead actor in 2025. He also won for outstanding drama series as an executive producer.

Wyle, 55, continued his winning streak into 2026, taking home a second consecutive best actor Emmy and the title of Sexiest Man Alive.

"You get into this because you are a natural observer. Then that privacy is immediately taken from you if you get any notoriety," Wyle told People of his acting career. "It could be a hard thing to reconcile. It took me a long time. 'The Pitt' gives me the opportunity to do it differently than I did the first time — with a little bit more presence and a little bit more composure."

Jonathan Bailey was an award-winning theater actor when he rose to global stardom as Lord Anthony in Netflix's Regency romance series "Bridgerton."

Bailey has since received an Emmy nomination for his role in the Showtime series "Fellow Travelers," made his big-screen debut in the 2024 musical hit "Wicked," and landed a leading role in the 2025 summer blockbuster "Jurassic World: Rebirth."

Bailey received the Sexiest Man Alive title ahead of the premiere of "Wicked: For Good," in which he reprises his role as Prince Fiyero. He is the first out gay man to grace People's most famous cover.

"It's a huge honor. Obviously, I'm incredibly flattered. And it's completely absurd," Bailey told People.

"When I was really young, I was very confident about who I was, and maybe I lost that as I grew up," he continued. "We're all sort of trying to get back to the origin, aren't we? But I was swimming in the sea about an hour ago with a good gang, and I felt all right in my skin."

John Krasinski rose to prominence as Jim Halpert on NBC's hit sitcom "The Office," which wrapped its nine-season run in 2013.

Three years later, Krasinski transitioned from supporting roles in rom-coms like "It's Complicated" and "Something Borrowed" to the leading man in Amazon's action series "Jack Ryan."

Krasinski also made his name as a director with 2018's "A Quiet Place," in which he co-starred with his real-life wife, Emily Blunt. The horror movie's rare box-office success led to a sequel in 2020 and a prequel in 2024 starring Lupita Nyong'o.

"I had to pitch the studio like 54 times before they said yes," Krasinski told People. "I'm pretty sure someone said, 'Sorry, is Jim from 'The Office' going to direct this?' And I went, 'Oh, it's John, but we'll get there.'"

Patrick Dempsey starred as Derek Shepherd, aka "McDreamy," for 11 seasons on "Grey's Anatomy." The role drew a passionate following, including many supporters of his character's will-they-won't-they relationship with Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo.

Although Dempsey had been featured in People's Sexiest Man Alive issue several times before, he didn't take the crown until 2023, eight years after he left the hit show.

"I'm glad it's happening at this point in my life," he told People of the honor. "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."

The actor founded The Dempsey Center to make comprehensive cancer treatment more accessible. He has also starred in beloved movies like "Sweet Home Alabama," "Enchanted," and its 2022 sequel "Disenchanted."

Chris Evans is best known for playing Captain America in the MCU, although he officially hung up his shield following "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019.

He has also starred in celebrated films like "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," "Snowpiercer," and "Knives Out."

"This whole thing is tough to be interviewed about. It feels like a weird form of humble bragging," Evans told People of the honor.

"My mom will be so happy," he added. "She's proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about."

Paul Rudd's breakthrough role came in 1995, starring opposite Alicia Silverstone in the popular coming-of-age drama "Clueless."

He rose through Hollywood primarily as a comedic actor, starring in films like "Wet Hot American Summer," "Knocked Up," and "Anchorman." He also portrayed prominent recurring characters in beloved TV shows "Friends" and "Parks and Recreation."

More recently, Rudd is widely known for his role as Ant-Man in the MCU, as well as the critically acclaimed Netflix original series "Living With Yourself."

The 52-year-old actor said his wife was "stupefied" when he received People's coveted crown.

"I'm hoping now that I'll finally be invited to some of those sexy dinners with Clooney and Pitt and B Jordan," he told the magazine. "And I figure I'll be on a lot more yachts. I'm excited to expand my yachting life."

He continued: "And I'll probably try to get better at brooding in really soft light. I like to ponder. I think this is going to help me become more inward and mysterious. And I'm looking forward to that."

Michael B. Jordan is the fifth man of color to receive People's honor.

He first rose to fame playing quarterback Vince Howard on NBC's "Friday Night Lights," but his Hollywood breakthrough came in 2013, when he starred in Ryan Coogler's directorial debut, "Fruitvale Station."

That same year, at the age of 26, he was featured in People's first annual Ones to Watch portfolio. 

He has since starred in major blockbuster films, including the 2015 "Rocky" sequel "Creed" and the MCU's 2018 masterpiece "Black Panther."

Jordan has also made a name for himself as a passionate activist for racial equality, marching in Black Lives Matter protests during the summer of 2020.

At 33, he described his Sexiest Man Alive title as "a cool feeling."

"When my grandmother was alive, it was something that she collected, and then my mom naturally reads it a lot and my aunts as well," he told People. "This is one that they're definitely going to have a special place for."

John Legend is only the fourth man of color to be chosen and the third-ever musician — all three of whom have starred as coaches on NBC's "The Voice."

At the time of his crowning, the "All Of Me" singer had released five critically acclaimed R&B albums, two of which had been certified platinum. His Sexiest Man Alive title came shortly after the release of "A Legendary Christmas Deluxe," the deluxe edition of his sixth studio album and first Christmas album.

Legend's wife, Chrissy Teigen, had an extremely on-brand reaction to her husband's announcement: "all downhill from here," she tweeted.

"She's proud of me," Legend told his fellow coaches on "The Voice." "You know, she makes fun of me almost all the time, but she hasn't even been snarky about this. She's like legit proud of me. I finally impressed my wife!"

Idris Elba became the third man of color to be given the honor. He rose to fame for his role as Baltimore drug kingpin Stringer Bell on HBO's "The Wire" in the early 2000s.

The actor also appeared in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe films as the keeper of the Asgardian bridge, Heimdall. There has even been a fan-fueled campaign to crown him as the next James Bond.

"I was like, 'Come on, no way. Really?'" Elba told People about being named Sexiest Man Alive. "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."

Blake Shelton is the second musician ever to be given People's highest honor.

Shelton's selection, however, did not go over well.

One person quipped: "I don't think he's even the sexiest man named Blake Shelton."

Still, Shelton's love life hasn't seemed to suffer since he received the Sexiest Man moniker. He and singer Gwen Stefani wed in 2021.

Former professional wrestler and current actor Dwayne Johnson became the second man of color to be named Sexiest Man Alive after his celebrated voiceover role in Disney's "Moana."

When he heard of his Sexiest Man title, he told People, "I said, 'That's awesome.' And then what went through my mind was just how cool and exciting it is. 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."

Despite being the first and only athlete to be honored with the annual cover, David Beckham told People, "I never feel that I'm an attractive, sexy person."

Beckham's wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, would likely disagree. 

In 2019, the couple's son, Brooklyn Beckham, was also featured in People's Sexiest Man Alive issue. 

Chris Hemsworth has stolen hearts as Thor throughout Marvel's "The Avengers" franchise, which made him a natural pick for 2014's Sexiest Man Alive after "Thor: The Dark World" hit theaters the year before.

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine became the first musician and second non-actor — out of only five total — to grace People's Sexiest Man Alive cover.

Levine made headlines in 2022 after Instagram model Sumner Stroh came forward and said that she'd had an affair with the singer. Stroh said that Levine, in fact, had asked her if he could name his next child with wife Behati Prinsloo "Sumner." 

Levine denied having an affair with Stroh but admitted that he had "crossed the line." 

Prinsloo and Levine welcomed their third child in January 2023. 

Channing Tatum nabbed the cover after his star-making turns in "Magic Mike," "The Vow," and "21 Jump Street."

"I think it's really cool that a guy who doesn't look like a model can have this," Bradley Cooper told People after being named Sexiest Man Alive.

"I think I'm a decent-looking guy. Sometimes I can look great, and other times I look horrifying," the "Hangover" star said.

Ryan Reynolds' forthcoming role in "Green Lantern" — and his self-deprecating humor — helped him become the first Canadian Sexiest Man Alive.

"The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers," he told the magazine.

Johnny Depp landed on his second cover on the heels of his role in "Alice in Wonderland."

He has since fallen out of favor with many fans. Depp has been repeatedly accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, a claim that she continues to maintain. He denies it.

Hugh Jackman was named Sexiest Man Alive after his turn as Wolverine in "X-Men: The Last Stand."

Matt Damon was given the title after his third "Bourne" movie rocked the box office.

George Clooney became the third man, after Brad Pitt and Richard Gere, to win People's honor twice.

Matthew McConaughey scored the cover for People's 20th anniversary of Sexiest Man Alive after he became known for starring in popular romantic comedies, like "The Wedding Planner" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

Jude Law scored People's most famous cover in the early 2000s.

"He's the most beautiful man who ever walked the earth — an absolutely perfect oil painting," Naomi Watts told People in 2004.

In 2003, Depp had charmed the world as Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."

The world couldn't stop talking about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in 2002.

"Chicks gravitate to him," Affleck's friend Kevin Smith, a director, told People at the time. "The word on the street is that he's the ideal man, chatty, gorgeous, generous, and intelligent."

Pierce Brosnan was known as James Bond when he landed on People's coveted cover.

In 2000, Brad Pitt was already a movie star — but coming off his wedding to Jennifer Aniston and his iconic role in "Fight Club," People decided to bestow Pitt with his second Sexiest Man Alive title.

When Richard Gere was named the Sexiest Man Alive in 1999, his ex-girlfriend Diane Von Furstenberg spoke glowingly of the decision.

"He walked like a biker, and that attracted me," she told People. "I knew I was going to get my hands on him."

Harrison Ford's 1998 cover recognized his role as a blockbuster heartthrob thanks to "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones."

Clooney secured his first Sexiest Man title while portraying the brooding Dr. Doug Ross on "ER."

Denzel Washington became the first man of color — and the first of only five total — to grace the Sexiest Man Alive cover.

A long-haired Pitt made the 1995 People cover after his much-celebrated starring roles in "Legends of the Fall" and "Interview With the Vampire."

Technically, "John Wick" star Keanu Reeves never starred on People's cover; the magazine didn't select a Sexiest Man Alive in 1994.

But the editorial director retroactively bestowed People's honor on Reeves in 2015.

In 1993, People forwent the Sexiest Man Alive cover in favor of naming a Sexiest Couple Alive. The magazine chose the newly married couple Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere, who split one year later.

In 1992, People explained Nick Nolte's appeal as his being a "big-lug Adonis with the heart of gold."

In 1991, Patrick Swayze had become one of Hollywood's most popular leading men, thanks to "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost." The actor died in 2009.

By 1990, Tom Cruise had already starred in a string of blockbusters, including "Top Gun," "Risky Business," "Rain Man," "Cocktail," and "All the Right Moves."

Sean Connery was 59 when he scored the coveted cover, making him the oldest Sexiest Man Alive to date.

John F. Kennedy Jr. — known in 1988 as political royalty, but something of a rebel — is one of only two winners to have died in the years since his cover. Kennedy was killed in a plane crash in 1999 with his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and his sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette.

Harry Hamlin made the cover during his five-year stint on the NBC legal drama "L.A. Law" as attorney Michael Kuzak.

The "Clash of the Titans" actor is now married to "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna.

Mark Harmon received the second annual honor — largely thanks to his starring roles on two hit shows, "St. Elsewhere" and "Moonlighting."

Mel Gibson was named People's first-ever Sexiest Man Alive after his star-making turn in the original "Mad Max" trilogy.

In the years since, Gibson has become a controversial figure thanks to rampant antisemitism, racist rants, and a recording of him making a death threat against his ex-girlfriend.

Ahead of his 2025 inauguration, President Donald Trump named Gibson as one of his ambassadors to Hollywood, tasking them with bringing business back to the film industry.