PEOPLE's Sexiest Men Alive Step Out at the Oscars

Years have passed for some of our favorites, but that didn’t stop Ben Affleck, Richard Gere, Denzel Washington and more from looking stunning
By People Staff
Updated August 26, 2015 12:16 AM

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Ben Affleck

Credit: George Pimentel/Getty

Sexiest Man Alive 2002
Beaming Ben! Although initially snubbed by the Academy for a Best Director nod, Affleck had the last laugh following a whirlwind awards season. After Argo won Best Picture, Affleck, 40, reminded us all why he’s still one of the Sexiest Men Alive – with a teary-eyed thank you to wife Jennifer Garner and their children.

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Channing Tatum

Credit: Noel Crawford/Startraks

Sexiest Man Alive 2012
While Magic Mike failed to be nominated for an Oscar, Tatum made sure he brought the sexy to Sunday night’s ceremony, doing a choreographed ballroom dance routine with Charlize Theron during the show opener. But perhaps the sexiest moment was when Tatum gushed over his expectant wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum and revealed the couple’s first child will be born in London.

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Bradley Cooper

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Sexiest Man Alive 2011
The Best Actor nominee – who lost to Daniel Day-Lewis early in the evening – looked very different from his Silver Linings Playbook character, Pat Solitano. With slicked-back hair and his mother as his date, Cooper was a gentleman all night, even rushing to costar Jennifer Lawrence’s aid when she slipped on her way to the podium to accept her Oscar.

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Hugh Jackman

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Sexiest Man Alive 2008
Although Jackman didn’t take home the Best Actor prize, that didn’t stop the Les Misérables star from having his own Oscar moment. The actor, 44, joined his cast mates for a live performance of “One Day More” during Sunday’s broadcast.

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George Clooney

Credit: Jen Lowery/Splash News Online

Sexiest Man Alive 2006 & 1997
He may be a little more gray than when he first graced the pages of PEOPLE in 1997 but Clooney’s still got it! The Argo producer sported matching salt-and-pepper-colored hair and a full beard. After winning the Oscar for Best Picture, the actor, 51, celebrated alongside girlfriend Stacy Keibler.

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Richard Gere

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Sexiest Man Alive 1999
At 63 years old, Gere reminded us all why his appeal is timeless. He chatted with Adele at the ceremony after she won her first Oscar for “Skyfall” and later joked around with Elizabeth Banks at the Vanity Fair after-party.

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Denzel Washington

Sexiest Man Alive 1996
Not only did the Oscar-nominated Flight star look dashing in a tuxedo, but he also laughed through host Seth MacFarlane’s awkward sock puppet rendition of his film! Who doesn’t love a man with a sense of humor?

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