They're charming, they're funny, they’re smart—they'd never get picked as People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive. From Jonah Hill to Community’s Danny Pudi, see our list of the more deserving guys than this year’s winner, Bradley Cooper.
A member of the Judd Apatow gang, many people first remember seeing Jonah Hill as part of Seth Rogan’s motley crew of weed-smoking, movie-watching friends in Knocked Up. But wasn’t until 2007’s Superbad that audiences really grew to appreciate Hill’s fast-talking, lovably curmudgeonly personality. Hill has slimmed down significantly, gained critical attention in films other than stoner comedies (like Moneyball), raised money for Malaria No More, and made female fans all the more excited to hear that one of their favorite Hollywood nerds is newly single.
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This nerdy British heartthrob was acting for five years before gaining a real following in 2010, i.e. the year of Andrew Garfield. First he melted hearts as the British love of both Carey Mulligan’s and Keira Knightley’s lives in Never Let Me Go and then as the Eduardo Saverin to Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. It wasn’t long before the once-unknown actor was offered the lead role in next year’s The Amazing Spider-Man. Since splitting from his former girlfriend of three years, actress Shannon Woodward, Garfield has been linked to his Spider-Man co-star, and fellow lovable nerd, Emma Stone. The two recently attended the Worldwide Orphans Foundation’s Seventh Annual Benefit Gala, which aims to help orphaned children become “healthy, independent, productive members of their communities and the world.”
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After a series of guest roles and pilots, 28-year-old Danny Pudi got his big acting break with Community, the NBC comedy in which Pudi plays Abed, an aspiring filmmaker potentially on the autism spectrum. Over the summer, Pudi participated in Do Something’s scavenger hunt, which involves 11 challenges over 11 days to get teens involved in helping the environment, fighting violence and bullying, advocating for animal welfare, and education. "It's kind of a great way in 11 days to show how you can make a difference in the world in many different ways," Pudi told the Chicago Tribune. "You can make a difference in very small, simple, easy ways." Though NBC recently caused an uproar when it announced it’s putting Community on the bench, Pudi fans need not worry. The half-Indian, half-Polish actor has landed roles in a few upcoming films, including 2012’s My Mother’s Curse, starring Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand. Looks like this former waiter is moving up in the movie business.
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Anton Yelchin pretty much grew up on screen. At age 11, he guest starred in one of the most dramatic episodes of E.R. At 17, he was kidnapped by misguided drug dealers in Alpha Dog, and at 18, he played a pill-distributing high school psychologist in Charlie Bartlett. But it’s the 22-year-old’s performance as a lovelorn college student in this year’s Like Crazy that has all adorkable movie goers swooning. The angel-faced Russia native was able to draw inspiration for his role as one half of a long distance couple in from his own recent breakup.
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Darren Criss has captured the hearts of teenage boys and girls across America as the singing, dancing, bow-tie wearing Blaine Anderson of Fox’s Glee. The 23-year-old originally tried out for the role of football player Finn. Even though he didn’t land the part, he tried again for preppy, openly gay Blaine. Criss may play somewhat of an outcast on the show, but in real life, he’s the voice behind several cover tracks on iTunes’ top 10 list. Though we love Criss for who he is on the inside, People magazine did deem him one of their Sexiest Men Alive in 2011. Still, Criss knows it’s not just looks that make him sexy. “I’m a big believer in opening doors for people. And the power of a smile goes a long way. My mom taught me that,” he told the magazine.
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There's just something about 32-year-old Andy Samberg—perhaps it's his smile or his messy curls—but the man can make a woman laugh till her knees are weak. Samberg got his start with The Lonely Island comedy trio alongside school pals Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. But once Samberg's beautiful brown eyes made it to the cast of Saturday Night Live, we were hooked. (Yes, even when he put his "dick in a box.") His looks haven't gone unnoticed either. In 2007, Samberg made Blender's Hot List and did a photo shoot of his honeymoon night with a chimpanzee. Samberg does a good job of keeping his love life on the down low, but he was last reported dating Joanna Newsom.
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Well, they can't all stay single. Comedian Seth Rogen, 28, popped the question to longtime girlfriend Lauren Miller. The couple have been together since 2004 and Rogen, in true comedic fashion, proposed to Miller as she was changing clothes. "She was literally only in her underpants and [her chest] was out," Rogen, 28, told Conan O'Brien. "I'd already kind of started, and I was like 'Oh man, her [chest is] out! That's not part of the plan!' First known for his role in Freaks and Geeks as Ken Miller, Rogen often plays hilarious, odd-ball teddy bear-like characters. We can't help but love him, even if he is clueless and high.
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Anyone who can make short-shorts and terrycloth wristbands look good is a stud in our books. The co-star of Juno wooed the ladies with his awkward-like affection toward Ellen Page's character. After that, the 22-year-old Canadian actor has been on a roll, with the debut of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and one of Conan's first guests on his new show. Now, Cera is gearing up for the Arrested Development movie due out in 2012.
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At first glance, there isn't anything extraordinary about Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as Lil Wayne—except for the tattoos that cover his body and the diamond grills. But the 28-year-old rapper, who was just released from Rikers Island prison for weapons possession, is incredibly entrepreneurial. He joined the Cash Money label at age 9, and became the CEO and president in 2007. He also created a nonprofit, One Family, which helps urban youth "cultivate their talents and skills." In jail, Wayne worked to help suicidal prisoners.
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When you can crack jokes, stick it to politicians, and beat out the late-night competition—all while sporting a suit and tie—you are pretty damn sexy. Jon Stewart has won an Emmy, been nominated for multiple journalism awards, been named one of Time magazine's Most Influential People—and has authored two bestselling books. His Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. drew a crowd of over 200,000. Stewart is happily married with a wife, two children, a cat, and two pit bulls.
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If he wasn't a debonair nerd when he was playing Dr. Doogie Howzer in the 1980s, he certainly is now as the womanizing Barney Stinson on CBS's How I Met Your Mother. Taking geek to extreme levels, Harris has always made his mark on the screen as a sexy, nerdy character, who was able to make fun of himself. And his love life? As Time magazine writes: "He made the issue of his sexuality disappear without desexualizing himself. He can get the girl and sing about the boys, and it all works." Bravo Doctor.
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Even back when Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a teenager, he could melt anyone he set his eyes on. In 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You, he played the lovable new kid who lands one of the school's most popular—and off-limits—girls. And then Gordon-Levitt became every indie movie girl's dream guy in (500) Days of Summer, where he charmed the Hollywood Foreign Press enough to earn a Golden Globe nomination. It's not all acting though: Christopher Nolan, who directed Gordon-Levitt in Inception, says the young actor is one of the few people in the business who never gets jaded. "He never loses his sense of enthusiasm—truly boyish enthusiasm for the fun thing we're doing," Nolan told Details magazine. Must be why we all find him so damn irresistible, then.
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When Tom Hanks made his television debut on the comedy Bosom Buddies, co-producer Ian Praiser told Rolling Stone, "I knew he'd be a movie star in two years." Hanks easily made the transition from comedy star to heartthrob in 1993's Sleepless in Seattle, where his sweet charm landed him Meg Ryan and a whole lot of admirers. There's just something about his laid-back, everyman appeal that gets women every time.
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Seth Meyers, the face of Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update, has got the grin—but he's also got the smarts. He's a graduate of Northwestern University, and is also the head writer of SNL. But here's a story that only ups his charm: Meyers still calls his parents every Sunday morning—a tradition he has since college. A comedian with a heart of gold? Really.
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Jimmy Kimmel had the door slammed in his face in the Handsome Men Club, but that doesn't mean he doesn't win over our hearts. But Kimmel has some ideas about what he would do with the Sexiest Man Alive title, should he ever win it. For one, he would never wear a shirt, "not to the bank. Not the mailbox." We all know he has Ben Affleck's vote, anyway.
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This British-born actor had us at, "I'd like to phone a friend." Dev Patel captured our hearts in 2008 as the love-inspired and enigmatic Jamal Malik in the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. He also apparently won the heart of his co-star, and now-girlfriend, Freida Pinto. We've yet to see him take off after his awe-inspiring role in Slumdog, but we've set our hopes high. Patel is set to appear next in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, out in 2011, directed by John Madden of Shakespeare in Love fame.
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