Noah Wyle Named People's 2026 Sexiest Man Alive
The Pitt star Noah Wyle has been crowned People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2026, succeeding last year's winner Jonathan Bailey.
People magazine has named Noah Wyle its 2026 Sexiest Man Alive, marking the first time the actor has received the honour. Wyle, best known for his long-running role as Dr. John Carter on NBC's ER and more recently as the lead of HBO's medical drama The Pitt, said he was stunned by the recognition. "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 told the magazine. He also joked that he expected plenty of ribbing from friends and family over the title.
Wyle first appeared on ER in 1994, earning three Golden Globe nominations and five Emmy nominations over the show's run alongside cast members including George Clooney, Anthony Edwards and Julianna Margulies. Sixteen years after the show's 2009 finale, he returned to a hospital setting in The Pitt, playing the disgruntled attending physician Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch. The role brought him a Golden Globe for best performance by a male actor in a television drama in 2026 and back-to-back Emmy awards for best actor in a drama series in both 2025 and 2026. Season 3 of The Pitt is set to premiere in January 2027.
The Sexiest Man Alive title, launched in 1985 by Mel Gibson, is now in its 41st year. Wyle succeeds Jonathan Bailey, the 2025 winner and the first openly gay man to hold the title.
