People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Men Alive’
People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Men Alive’, As if fans of “Magic Mike” needed anyone to tell them, People Magazine has named the movie’s star Channing Tatum as its “Sexiest Man Alive” for 2012 . He’s the latest in a long line of heartthrobs to win the title. Take a titillating trip down memory lane to see who else was deemed worthy and how they looked when they made the cover.
Mel Gibson

When he won: 1985
Sure, these days, he’s better known for misanthropic rants, domestic discord and esoteric indie flicks. But back in 1985, the “Mad Max” star became People’s first-ever “Sexiest Man Alive.”


Mark Harmon

When he won: 1986

Harmon stars in the small-screen hit “NCIS” these days . In 1986, he played a dashing doctor on “St. Elsewhere” and won a Golden Globe for playing a real-life serial killer and rapist .


Harry Hamlin

When he won: 1987

“Mr. Lisa Rinna”  may have been scantily clad when he played the lead in this '81 cult classic, but his role as a handsome lawyer on the hit drama “L.A. Law” is likely what earned him the 1987 cover.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

When he won: 1988

“John-John” didn’t have much more than a handsome face and a family name to brag about when he won the title in 1988, making him the only non-actor to win. He later added attorney and magazine publisher to his CV. His life was unexpectedly cut short in 1999.

Sean Connery

When he won: 1989

He was the ‘60s-era Bond and by the time he hit the 1989 cover, Connery had an Oscar for best actor in a supporting role (for which movie?) on his shelf and he’d joined the Indiana Jones franchise.


Tom Cruise

When he won: 1990

Cruise has had a rough year in terms of love (he and Katie Holmes divorced), but he’s keeping himself busy with new work. In 1990, he had a different A-list love and a formidable film “feather” in his cap.

Patrick Swayze

When he won: 1991

Hollywood mourned his passing in 2009 . But in his heyday, Swayze kept fans swooning with “Dirty Dancing” and the romantic hit that preceded his 1991 cover story, “Ghost.”

Nick Nolte

When he won: 1992

Nolte’s win came after two big hits —the intense suspense thriller “Cape Fear” and the romantic drama “The Prince of Tides.” Sure, he’s hit some personal lows (remember his iconic mug shot?) since then, but his career keeps on plugging. Here’s his latest .
Brad Pitt

When he won: 1995

By 1995, Pitt had showed his range with films as diverse as “Interview with the Vampire” and “Legends of the Fall,” all while keeping the hunk factor at full throttle.

Denzel Washington

When he won: 1996

By 1996, Washington had earned respect for “Philadelphia” and Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X,” and TV viewers were familiar with his charms from this medical drama. He is the only African- American to win the “Sexiest” honor.

George Clooney

When he won: 1997

Clooney’s been turning heads since his '80s sitcom days, and in 1997 he was elevated from hunky TV doctor to hero in “Batman & Robin.”


Harrison Ford

When he won: 1998

He’d already cracked his famous whip in three Indiana Jones films and played the swashbuckling Han Solo. The year before his win, he played the president of the United States in “Air Force One.”



Richard Gere

When he won: 1999


Gere was the go-to romantic comedy guy in the ‘90s, thanks to “Pretty Woman” and “Runaway Bride.” His 1999 philanthropic work showed he was more than just a pretty face.

Pierce Brosnan


When he won: 2001


Brosnan starred in his own ‘80s TV series, carried the Bond torch for four films in the late ‘90s to early ‘00s and earned the “sexiest” spot in 2001.


Ben Affleck


When he won: 2002


“Good Will Hunting” put him on the map as a writer and actor, his brief relationship with J. Lo put him on the map as tabloid fodder, and People put him on its cover in 2002.


Johnny Depp

When he won: 2003

From an undercover cop to a cross-dressing horror director to a prancing pirate, Depp’s done it all. He’s also been romantically linked to the likes of Winona Ryder and Kate Moss (his latest break-up?). His 2003 addition to People’s list added some unique flavor.


Jude Law

When he won: 2004


Law took the label the year after his divorce and his Oscar nod for “Cold Mountain.” By 2004, he’d started a new relationship and had a new film to promote.


Matthew McConaughey

When he won: 2005

McConaughey’s drawl, cockiness and sly grin have won fans over, whether he’s playing his slightly sleazy character in “Dazed and Confused,” a rom-com Romeo in “The Wedding Planner,” or, a globetrotting adventurer in 2005’s “Sahara.”


Matt Damon


When he won: 2007


In 2007, all eyes were on this spy. He’d rekindled his Jason Bourne role and teamed up, once again, with the ensemble cast of “Ocean’s Thirteen.” That year, he made the cover and was awarded a star in Hollywood.

Hugh Jackman

When he won: 2008

Jackman jumped easily from Broadway musicals to blockbuster action films to sweeping dramas such as “Australia” and became the second muscleman from Down Under to make the People cover.


Ryan Reynolds

When he won: 2010

He and his muscles appeared in both romantic comedies and comic-book action flicks (photo) in the run-up to his 2010 cover selection. At the time, he was married to an actress who’d become a sex symbol in her own right.

Bradley Cooper

When he won: 2011

Last year’s “Sexiest Man Alive” was riding high on his “Hangover” hits, as well as his thriller “Limitless” when he got news of his new title. Cooper later admitted he thought he was being pranked and there was much debate over his win.