Mel Gibson
When he won: 1985
Sure, these days, he’s better known for misanthropic rants, domestic discord and esoteric indie flicks (see him now). 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 (check him out). In 1986, he played a dashing doctor on “St. Elsewhere” and won a Golden Globe for playing a real-life serial killer and rapist (who?).
Harry Hamlin
When he won: 1987
“Mr. Lisa Rinna” (see the couple) 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 (what was his cause of death?).
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 (his real name?) 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 (who was his wife then?) and a formidable film “feather” in his cap.
Patrick Swayze
When he won: 1991
Hollywood mourned his passing in 2009 (his cause of death). 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 (watch the trailer).
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 (what was the popular show, again?) 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment