The title of PEOPLE's "Sexiest Man Alive" has long served equally a barometer for Hollywood's hottest star. But what does information technology take to land a spot on the cover? We've put together a master listing of all of the men who've earned the bragging rights title and so see what they all take in common, besides, you know, the obvious.
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1985: Mel Gibson
In 1985, there was no ane more than deserving than Mel Gibson. Thanks to his role in the Mad Max films throughout the '80s, his celebrity was exploding around this time.
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1986: Mark Harmon
Marking Harmon was the natural choice for PEOPLE'ssecond almanac winner. The star of '80s hits, similar St. Elsewhere and Moonlighting, was at his peak and women couldn't terminate swooning for the actor.
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1987: Harry Hamlin
Harry Hamlin rose the ranks in Hollywood by playing a handsome chaser on L.A. Law, which premiered on Boob tube in 1986. The following year, much to his shock, Hamlin was dubbed PEOPLE's 3rd "Sexiest Human being Alive."
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1988: John F. Kennedy Jr.
Born into a political dynasty, John F. Kennedy Jr. was the closest matter to American royalty we had at the fourth dimension and was considered one of the about eligible bachelors of the '80s.
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1989: Sean Connery
With a host of young stars as old recipients, PEOPLE was eager to expand the title to include all types of sexy, so in 1989 they gave the honor to Connery. At the time, the iconic actor was almost threescore years former, but he proved that historic period was only a number.
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1990: Tom Cruise
Thanks to roles in movies like Summit Gun, Rain Human, and Risky Concern, Tom Prowl proved he could handle any role in Hollywood—including the office of PEOPLE's"Sexiest Human Alive."
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1991: Patrick Swayze
Dirty Dancing put Patrick Swayze on the map, just his 1990 film Ghost made him Hollywood'southward crush of the decade and earned him the coveted POEPLE cover.
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1992: Nick Nolte
At the age of 51, and only later his University Honour-nominated performance in The Prince of Tides, Nick Nolte landed a spot on PEOPLE's 1992 "Sexiest Man Live" encompass, with a coverline that described him every bit, "Strong, sensitive, and square-abroad at last, he's a man's human being that women tin can't resist."
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1993: Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford
In 1993, Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere weren't just a celebrity couple. They were the celebrity couple. Apparently, PEOPLE thought and then too, because the publication flipped the script and dubbed the pair the "Sexiest Couple Live."
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1994: Keanu Reeves
Although Keanu Reeves didn't technically land the encompass in 1994 (PEOPLE skipped the award that year), in 2015 the magazine's editor retroactively named the Speed star that yr's "Sexiest Human Alive."
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1995: Brad Pitt
By 1995, Brad Pitt had taken Hollywood by storm. His hit pic Se7en had just been released, he was dating up-and-coming extra Gwyneth Paltrow, and he was named that twelvemonth's "Sexiest Homo Alive." Life was good.
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1996: Denzel Washington
On the heels of two striking films, Courage Under Burn down and The Preacher's Wife, Denzel Washington was named the "Sexiest Man Live" in 1996, making him the first not-white recipient of the title.
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1997: George Clooney
In 1997, George Clooney was at the summit of his game. He was a hotshot doctor on ER. and was pegged to play Batman in the new franchise flick, Batman & Robin. So it's not a surprise he defenseless the eye of those over at PEOPLE looking for their leading man.
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1998: Harrison Ford
The Star Wars and Indiana Jones star wasn't new to Hollywood, but PEOPLE didn't care. At the age of 56, the role player was named the "Sexiest Human Alive." I person who wasn't surprised past this? His Working Girls costar, Melanie Griffith: "Everybody is goo-goo-eyed over Harrison. He's just so handsome and sweet and elegant and cool and macho," she told People in 1998.
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1999: Richard Gere
After Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford divorced in 1995, neither of them stopped being sexy. In 1999, on the heels of Gere'due south latest movie striking theaters, Runaway Bride, the actor earned his showtime solo title.
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2000: Brad Pitt
So nice, they named him "Sexiest Man" twice. Pitt was the get-go solo recipient of the championship to exist given it a 2nd time. This was the same yr that the actor married actress Jennifer Aniston.
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2001: Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan had already shown united states he could exist cooler than absurd every bit James Bond and being named PEOPLE'southward "Sexiest Human being Alive" was just icing on the block.
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2002: Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's moving-picture show, Gigli, may have been an epic flop, but it did bring the ii rising stars together. The human relationship significantly additional Affleck'due south profile, which might exist part of the reason he was that year's "Sexiest Homo Alive."
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2003: Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp starred in Pirates of the Caribbean area in 2003. The same year that he was sailing the high seas, Depp also snagged the "Sexiest Man Alive" title.
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2004: Jude Constabulary
Matt Damon wanted to be him and then desperately in The Talented Mr. Ripley, that, well...you lot know. We have a feeling many men in Hollywood wanted to be Law in 2004 afterward he snagged PEOPLE's iconic title.
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2005: Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey was definitely alright, alright, alright back in 2005. The histrion, who had already proved himself every bit the king of rom-coms, was starting to have on more serious roles, similar in Sahara—oh, and he was PEOPLE's "Sexiest Man Alive."
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2006: George Clooney
George Clooney was named the "Sexiest Homo Live"—AGAIN!—in 2006, if for no other reason than to prove that he really does just get improve with age.
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2007: Matt Damon
Matt Damon hit his step equally the star of the Bourne activity movies in the mid-2000s, which is also around the time when he was given the title of "Sexiest Man Alive."
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2008: Hugh Jackman
An Australian accent, biceps, and an incredibly charming personality. How was Wolverine...we mean...Hugh Jackman not given the "Sexiest Homo Alive" title until 2008?
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2009: Johnny Depp
Despite being crowned the "Sexiest Man Alive" 6 years prior, Depp was given information technology again in 2009, correct around the fourth dimension that his picture show, Public Enemies, was about to exist released.
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2010: Ryan Reynolds
It turns out funny is sexy. At least, that's what everyone should take abroad from Ryan Reynolds condign the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2010.
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2011: Bradley Cooper
A surefire mode to get nominated for PEOPLE's coveted embrace? Wear a scarf on a blood-red carpet. Bradley Cooper knows that. Hence why (at to the lowest degree, according to our theory) he was put on the cover in 2011.
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2012: Channing Tatum
In the era of Magic Mike madness, Channing Tatum secured the well-deserved championship as PEOPLE'due south "Sexiest Man Alive." "Y'all are messing with me," Tatum said to the mag when they told him. Turns out he'southward modest, too.
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2013: Adam Levine
Maroon five frontman, Adam Levine, had just begun dating Victoria'due south Secret model, Behati Prinsloo, when he was named 2013's "Sexiest Homo Live." Guess it sealed the bargain, every bit the 2 are at present married and accept 2 children.
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2014: Chris Hemsworth
Non only does he play the fiercely strong superhero, Thor, merely Chris Hemsworth springs into action on the dwelling front besides every bit a father of three children. In 2014, the actor took on another responsibleness: PEOPLE's "Sexiest Human Alive" for the year.
