Since they first created the honor back in 1985, People Magazine has named thirty-five different men "The Sexiest Man Alive." Three of those men are from right here in Kentucky and two of them have won that award twice!

People Celebrates Iconic "Sexiest Man Alive" Issue In Times Square
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First, let's go all the way back to the beginning. People's very first "Sexiest Man Alive" honor was bestowed upon Mel Gibson. It was his starring role in the dusty and raw Mad Max trilogy that earned him the inaugural nod.

It was just a few short years later that a former Kentuckian staked his claim to the title. In 1990, People named Tom Cruise "The Sexiest Man Alive."

"Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" Australian Premiere
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By that year, Tom had already established himself as one of Hollywood's box office giants. He is still one of the reigning kings of film today. Next year, he'll star in his eighth Mission Impossible movie- Mission Impossible 8: Dead Reckoning.

Given that Tom was born in Syracuse, New York, you may be wondering about his ties to Kentucky. They run deep. Both of his parents are from Louisville.

Though Tom has been named People's "Sexiest Man Alive" once, Kentucky's two other winners have each claimed the title twice. George Clooney, who was born in Lexington and attended Northern Kentucky University, was the cover guy back in 1997.

It was his portrayal of Dr. Doug Ross on the hit show ER that snagged him his first title.

Berlinale: Syriana Photocall
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His second came in 2006, when he became the third man to win the award twice. At the time, the other two were Brad Pitt and Richard Gere.

That said, another Kentuckian is the fourth man to win the award twice. Johnny Depp, who was born in Owensboro, won his first "Sexiest Man Alive" title in 2003.

60th Venice Film Festival
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That's the year that Depp starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

He won again six years later- in 2009. That's around the time he starred as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

Comic-Con 2009 - Day 1 - "Alice In Wonderland" Press Conference
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To see the list of all 35 men who've been named People's Sexiest Man Alive, CLICK HERE!

LOOK: Can you guess the world-famous actor from a childhood photo?

Stacker used Getty Images to compile photos of beloved actors from when they were children. How many can you guess from their childhood picture alone?

Gallery Credit: Stacker

 

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