The former Sexiest Man Alive has been hit with some tragic news this week …
Chris Hemsworth is perhaps best known as Marvel’s Thor.
And this week, he has opened up about a recent diagnosis.
It’s been revealed that the Avengers star has a Alzheimer’s discovery…
“Rest and heal up Thor!” wrote one fan.
But first, let’s take a look at who’s won Sexiest Man Alive over the years…
Last year, Paul Rudd was People’s choice.
The star of Ant-Man won the accolade in 2021. He said: “I mean I’m going to lean into it hard. I’m going to own this. I’m not going to try to be like ‘Oh, I’m so modest.’ I’m getting business cards made. But all of my friends will destroy me and I expect them to. And that’s why they’re my friends.”
In 2020, Michael B. Jordan won the award.
He told People that, for the women in his life: “This is one that they’re definitely going to have a special place for.”
The year before it was ‘All of Me’ singer John Legend.
The musician won in 2019. He said: “I was excited, but I was a little scared at the same time because it’s a lot of pressure.”
Idris Elba was awarded the title in 2018.
The Luther star said: “To be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise – an ego boost for sure.”
2017’s winner was country singer Blake Shelton.
He was the second-ever musician to win the award! However, it didn’t go down too well with some fans…
Dwayne Johnson was chosen as the sexy champion of 2016.
The Rock was only the second man of color to ever win the accolade, twenty-one years after the tradition began.
Former soccer player David Beckham won back in 2015.
We can’t quite believe this, but he said: “I never feel that I’m an attractive, sexy person.”
One winner that we all saw coming is Chris Hemsworth…
The Australian hunk won the award in 2014.
Adam Levine won 2013’s title.
He told People: “It’s going to hit me when I’m constantly the butt of every joke every friend and family member makes for the next twenty years of my life, but I’m ready to handle it.”
Actor Channing Tatum won in 2012.
In what we are sure must be a coincidence, this award came in the same year as his saucy performance as a stripper in Magic Mike…
Bradley Cooper was given the title in 2011.
He told the magazine he thought it was “really cool that a guy who doesn’t look like a model can have this.”
The hunky champion of 2010 was Ryan Reynolds.
He said: “The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers.”
Hugh Jackman won the title in 2008.
The Australian star of Wolverine was destined for the title looking like that!
Matt Damon was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2007.
He said: “You’ve given an aging suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime.”
Matthew McConaughey is another winner of the title.
The Texan won the award back in 2005.
British actor and star of The Holiday Jude Law won in 2004.
Naomi Watts called him a “perfect oil painting” of a man — what an endorsement!
Ben Affleck won the crown of Sexiest Man Alive in 2002.
This was back when Bennifer (AKA his relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez) was in its first full swing.
The year before this, Pierce Brosnan won the award.
The James Bond actor was crowned 2001’s sexy champion.
Then, there’s Richard Gere — he was 1999’s winner.
The American actor and star of Pretty Woman was fifty years old when he won.
In 1998, Harrison Ford was honored with the title.
He was fifty-six years old when he won the crown. Impressive stuff!
In 1996, Denzel Washington was the first ever man of color to win the award.
He told the magazine he doesn’t take himself very seriously: “I don’t stop in the mirror and go, ‘Hey, Sexy Man.'”
People took a break in 1994…
But Keanu Reeves was retroactively awarded 1994’s title in 2015.
In 1993, People took a turn from their tradition and named a Sexiest Couple Alive instead.
Richard Gere was dating supermodel Cindy Crawford at the time, so we totally can’t blame them for this decision!
Nick Nolte was 1992’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The now eighty-one-year-old had a big year in 1992, as he also starred in the Oscar-nominated film Lorenzo’s Oil.
Patrick Swayze won the title in 1991.
It’s no wonder why, seeing as he starred in Dirty Dancing and Ghost in the years preceding.
The winner of Sexiest Man Alive in 1990 was Tom Cruise.
This was following a run of box office hits, including Top Gun, Risky Business, and Rain Man.
The year 1989 saw another Bond star win the award — Sean Connery.
The Scotsman said: “For once, I’m speechless. It’ll all be downhill from here!”
John F. Kennedy, Jr. was awarded the title in 1988.
The former President’s son was one of the most eligible bachelors around at the time of winning!
Harry Hamlin was crowned winner in 1987.
He said: “Certainly when I look in the mirror, I don’t get turned on.”
The second-ever winner of the title was Mark Harmon.
The actor was the epitome of the eighties, and won the honor in 1986.
However, the first man to ever win the accolade was none other than Mel Gibson!
The Braveheart star was overwhelmed with the award, telling People: “It’s all happening too fast.”
But there were a few Sexiest Man Alive awardees that came up twice…
Any guesses at this point?
The man who first won the title of Sexiest Man Alive twice was Brad Pitt.
The star won the first time round in 1995.
Then, he won the first Sexiest Man Alive award of the new millennium.
He was dating Jennifer Aniston at the time.
Next up is none other than George Clooney.
The Ocean’s Eleven actor initially won the title in 1997.
Then, he won again less than ten years later in 2006.
He told People: “I don’t go on that many dates.”
Third and finally, the last man to achieve the honor of being People’s Sexiest Man Alive is Johnny Depp.
He won firstly in 2003, and said: “Life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all!”
Then, the actor won again in 2009!
The Pirates of the Caribbean star is the most recent man to be honored with the award twice.
But this week, former Sexiest Man Chris Hemsworth has shared some tragic news.
He’s revealed to Bustle that he has genes that could lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
“Now when I finish this tour this week, I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.” Hemsworth said.
“You start talking about kids and family and going, ‘Oh my God, they’re getting older, they’re growing up and I keep slapping another movie on top of another movie.’”
“Before you know it, they’re 18 and they’ve moved out of the house, and I missed the window.”
We’re sending our best wishes to Hemsworth.