Who Is the Sexiest Man Alive 2022? The Actor Taking Paul Rudd's Title

Never mind the midterms—this is the result Hollywood has really been waiting for.

Chris Evans has been named Sexiest Man Alive 2022.

The new titleholder claims the crown, awarded by People Magazine, from his fellow Marvel superhero, Paul Rudd, with Evans joining esteemed company. Previous winners include Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, David Beckham, Idris Elba, Dwayne Johnson, and Jude Law.

Evans' fans have been celebrating the news across social media, and he's been congratulated by the likes of late-night host Stephen Colbert and former title-holder Johnson. Not one to gloat about his new accolade, Captain America actor Evans used the award as an opportunity to encourage everyone to vote in Tuesday's midterms.

Netflix social media employee Jarett Wieselman joked "DEMOCRACY WORKS" after Evans was named Sexiest Man Alive while journalist Nicole Massabrook proclaimed on Twitter, "You're damn right he's the sexiest man alive."

Some commentators suggested the award came too late for 41-year-old Evans.

"Making Chris Evans the sexiest man alive in 2022?" asked the writer known as Meech, adding, "What's next, resurrecting Lou Bega for Mambo No. 6?"

Journalist Chris Murphy agreed that Evans' award was something of a throwback though this was Evans' first time winning the title. "Jimmy Kimmel hosting the Oscars... Chris Evans sexiest man alive... do we know that closing our eyes and pretending it's 2011 will neither curb climate change nor stop the relentless marching forward of time," he said.

The announcement that Evans was the new Sexiest Man Alive came on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday night. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, a former winner himself, congratulated Evans from the set of their new movie Red One, which is expected to be a new Christmas franchise. On the show, Evans was encouraged to say something sexy, to which he turned to the camera and said, "Go vote tomorrow."

People Magazine has given the Sexiest Man Alive title to one person every year since 1985, with a few exceptions. A 29-year-old Mel Gibson was the first recipient, Tom Cruise is still the youngest winner at 27 years old in 1990, while Sean Connery was the oldest winner at 59 years old in 1989.

In 1993 Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford won the "Sexiest Couple Alive" title, and in 1994 there were no winners, though the editor retrospectively gave it to Keanu Reeves who received the award in 2015. Denzel Washington was the first non-white winner in 1996 while Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Richard Gere, and Johnny Depp are all two-time winners of the title. All of the previous winners have been entertainers except politician John F. Kennedy Jr. (1988) and soccer star David Beckham (2015).

While Evans encouraged everyone to go vote, screenwriter Timothy Dowling jokingly demanded a recount. "IT WAS RIGGED," he wrote, "There was so much fraud in the sexy voting. We have never seen such sexy fraud Chris Evans. Lets storm the People headquarters. Who is with me?"

Not everyone was thrilled with the choice, or previous choices made by People Magazine. "These are like the sexiest men alive to straight men I can't explain it," influencer Keyon Elkins wrote in a tweet that went viral. Wieselman also added that the publication also has an "uncanny ability to find the one year their sexiest man alive looks their least sexy."

Chris Evans was Newsweek's cover star in June 2021, encouraging Gen Z to help reshape American politics.