Photos: Noteworthy 'sexiest' men by People magazine
The first ever Sexiest Man Alive was Mel Gibson in 1985.
John F. Kennedy Jr., 27 at the time, was the youngest winner ever to receive the title in 1988.
Patrick Swayze is the second member to have since died (in 2009 - also JFK Jr. in 1999). Swayze won the prize in 1991.
Pierce Brosnan won in 2001, and was the second actor to have played James Bond (also Sean Connery, in 1989)
Denzel Washington is the only non-white winner, taking the prize in 1996
Richard Gere has won two awards from People: first, in 1993, as one half of the Sexiest Couple (when he was married to Cindy Crawford) and the Sexiest Man Alive in 1999.
Matthew McConnahey took the award in 2005.
Brad Pitt has won the honour twice, in 1995 and 2000.
George Clooney has won twice, in 1997 and 2006.
Hugh Jackman was the first Aussie to win the award, in 2008.
Johnny Depp has also won twice - taking the honour in 2003 and 2009.
The first and only Canadian on the list: Ryan Reynolds was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2010.