Noah Wyle Named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2026
The "ER" alum, 55, receives the annual honor, joining a long list of Hollywood leading men.
Noah Wyle has been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2026. The 55-year-old actor, known for his role on "ER," takes over the title from Jonathan Bailey, who was honored in 2025.
Wyle expressed surprise at the announcement, quipping, "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." He joins a distinguished group of actors, athletes, and musicians who have received the annual recognition since its inception.
The tradition, spanning over four decades, has seen numerous stars grace the cover of People. Past recipients include George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and Ben Affleck, who remain widely considered prominent figures in Hollywood.
Since its inauguration in 1985 with Mel Gibson, the magazine has recognized a diverse range of men. Gibson, then 70, was the first to receive the title. Mark Harmon, Harry Hamlin, and John F. Kennedy Jr. followed in subsequent years. Kennedy Jr. remains the youngest recipient at age 27 when he was honored in 1988.
Other notable past winners include Sean Connery, who was the oldest recipient at 59 in 1989; Tom Cruise, honored in 1990 and still maintaining his youthful appearance at 64; and Patrick Swayze, recognized in 1991.
In the mid-1990s, Brad Pitt was named Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and again in 2000. Denzel Washington received the honor in 1996, and George Clooney, now 65, was recognized in 1997 and again in 2006. Harrison Ford, an iconic figure in cinema, received the title in 1998.
Further recipients include Pierce Brosnan in 2001, Ben Affleck in 2002, Johnny Depp in 2003 and again in 2009, and Jude Law in 2004. Matthew McConaughey was honored in 2005, followed by Matt Damon in 2007. Hugh Jackman, known for his role as Wolverine, received the award in 2008.
More recent recipients include Ryan Reynolds in 2010, Bradley Cooper in 2011, Channing Tatum in 2012, and musician Adam Levine in 2013. Chris Hemsworth was recognized in 2014, David Beckham in 2015, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in 2016.
In more recent years, the title has been awarded to Blake Shelton (2017), Idris Elba (2018), John Legend (2019), Michael B. Jordan (2020), Paul Rudd (2021), Chris Evans (2022), Patrick Dempsey (2023), and John Krasinski (2024).