People magazine has announced its Sexiest Man Alive for 2026, and it's one for the books.
On Oct. 27, Noah Wyle was announced as the newest addition to the list of Sexiest Man Alive titleholders.
The 55-year-old Los Angeles native said he never imagines he would receive the honor. "I thought that sounded like a prank — just not in a million years did I think that this would be an honor bestowed on me," the actor said. Wyle is best known for playing Dr. John Carter on “ER” and Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch on “The Pitt,” with other credits including “Falling Skies,” “The Librarians,” “Leverage: Redemption,” “Pirates of Silicon Valley,” “A Few Good Men” and “Donnie Darko.”
Wyle follows in the footsteps of his fellow recent honorees Patrick Dempsey
(2023), Chris Evans (2022), Michael B. Jordan (2020) and Idris Elba (2018).
Naming the Sexiest Man Alive has been an annual tradition for People magazine since 1985's inaugural recipient of the title, Mel Gibson. The only deviation was in 1993, when Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford were deemed the Sexiest Couple Alive — and there was no successor named in 1994.
Who was People's Sexiest Men Alive 2025?
"Bridgerton" heartthrob Jonathan Bailey graced the cover of People's Sexist Man Alive issue in 2025.
"It's the honor of a lifetime," Bailey, 37 at the time, told Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show." He joked, "I want to say, Jimmy, thank you so much for turning it down so that I could be here."
Who are the previous People's Sexiest Men Alive recipients?
- 2025: Jonathan Bailey
- 2024: John Krasinski
- 2023: Patrick Dempsey
- 2022: Chris Evans
- 2021: Paul Rudd
- 2020: Michael B. Jordan
- 2019: John Legend
- 2018: Idris Elba
- 2017: Blake Shelton
- 2016: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
- 2015: David Beckham
- 2014: Chris Hemsworth
- 2013: Adam Levine
- 2012: Channing Tatum
- 2011: Bradley Cooper
- 2010: Ryan Reynolds
- 2009: Johnny Depp (his second time earning the title)
- 2008: Hugh Jackman
- 2007: Matt Damon
- 2006: George Clooney (his second time earning the title)
- 2005: Matthew McConaughey
- 2004: Jude Law
- 2003: Johnny Depp
- 2002: Ben Affleck
- 2001: Pierce Brosnan
- 2000: Brad Pitt
- 1999: Richard Gere
- 1998: Harrison Ford
- 1997: George Clooney
- 1996: Denzel Washington
- 1995: Brad Pitt
- 1993: Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford
- 1992: Nick Nolte
- 1991: Patrick Swayze
- 1990: Tom Cruise
- 1989: Sean Connery
- 1988: John F. Kennedy, Jr.
- 1987: Harry Hamlin
- 1986: Mark Harmon
- 1985: Mel Gibson
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Noah Wyle named People's Sexist Man Alive 2026
