Actor Paul Rudd has been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2021, the magazine announced late Tuesday.
The 52-year-old “Ant-Man” star told People that some fans may be scratching their heads as to why he received the award, which the magazine has given since 1985.
“I do have an awareness, enough to know that when people hear that I’d be picked for this, they would say, ‘What?’” he said. “This is not false humility. There are so many people that should get this before me.”
Here are some memorable photos of actor Paul Rudd through the years.
1995: Paul Rudd appears in the movie "Clueless" (1995).
1998: Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd star in "The Object of My Affection."
2000: Paul Rudd attends the sixth annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 12, 2000, in Beverly Hills, California.
2001: Rachel Weisz, Paul Rudd and Gretchen Mol at the opening night party for Neil LaBute’s play "The Shape of Things" at Ernie’s in New York City.
2002: Actor Paul Rudd arrives at the New York premiere of "The Chateau" at the Chelsea West Cinema on August 6, 2002, in New York City.
2003: Actor Paul Rudd and his wife, Julie Yaeger, attend the Vanity Fair 2003 Tribeca Film Festival launch party at the State Supreme Courthouse on May 1, 2003, in New York City.
2004: Actors Fred Willard, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd attend the premiere of the Dreamworks film "Anchorman" on June 28, 2004, at the Mann’s Chinese Theater, in Westwood, California.
2005: Actor Paul Rudd poses with "bridesmaids" Harriett McClure, Heather Laine, Heidi Bailey and Amelia Nelson at the premiere of "Wedding Crashers" at the Ziegfeld Theatre on July 13, 2005, in New York City.
2006: Presenters Lauren Ambrose and Paul Rudd appear onstage at the 60th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2006, in New York City.
2007: Actress Katherine Heigl, actor/executive producer Seth Rogen, actors Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and writer/director/producer Judd Apatow pose at the premiere of Universal Pictures’ "Knocked Up" at the Mann’s Village Theater on May 21, 2007, in Los Angeles.
2008: Actors Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott arrive at the premiere of Universal’s "Role Models" at the Mann Village Theatre on October 22, 2008, in Los Angeles.
2009: Actors Jason Segel, Rashida Jones and Paul Rudd attend the Cinema Society and Details screening of "I Love You, Man" at the Tribeca Grand Screening Room on March 6, 2009, in New York City.
2010: Steve Carrell (left) and Paul Rudd speak onstage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios on June 6, 2010, in Universal City, California.
2011: Actors Zooey Deschanel, Rashida Jones and Elizabeth Banks arrive to the premiere of the Weinstein Company’s "Our Idiot Brother" on August 16, 2011, in Los Angeles.
2012: Actors Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd arrive at the premiere of Universal Pictures’ "Wanderlust" held at Mann Village Theatre on February 16, 2012, in Westwood, California.
2013: Actors Tina Fey and Paul Rudd attend the "Admission" New York Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 on March 5, 2013, in New York City.
2014: Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd attend the "They Came Together" screening during theBAMcinemaFest 2014 at BAM Harvey Theater on June 23, 2014, in New York City.
2015: Actor Paul Rudd is Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 1, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
2016: Actor Paul Rudd attends the world premiere of Marvel’s "Captain America: Civil War" at Dolby Theatre on April 12, 2016, in Los Angeles.
2017: Comedians Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Colin Jost, Amy Schumer and Jim Gaffigan back stage at Hilarity for Charity’s third annual New York City Variety Show at Webster Hall on June 8, 2017, in New York City.
2018: Paul Rudd attends the premiere of Disney and Marvel’s "Ant-Man and the Wasp" on June 25, 2018, in Los Angeles.
2019: Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd attend SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s fourth annual Patron of the Artists Awards at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on November 7, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California.
2020: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal Media LLC, Paul Rudd and Jennifer Lopez speak onstage during the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California.
2021: Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell and Kathryn Hahn attends "The Shrink Next Door" New York Premiere at The Morgan Library on October 28, 2021, in New York City.
The husband and father of two, also known for his roles in “Clueless,” “Friends” and “This Is 40,” joked that he was going to “lean into it hard” when it comes to his new title.
“I’m going to own this,” he told the magazine. “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.”
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Actor Paul Rudd was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2021.
Actor Michael B. Jordan, shown here in this 2018 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2020.
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David Beckham, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2015.
Chris Hemsworth, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2014.
Adam Levine, shown here in this 2016 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2013.
Channing Tatum, shown here in this 2013 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2012.
Bradley Cooper, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2011.
Actor Ryan Reynolds, shown here in this 2016 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010.
Two-time winner Johnny Depp was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for a second time in 2009.
Hugh Jackman, shown here in this 2019 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2008.
Actor Matt Damon was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2007.
Two-time winner George Clooney, who was first named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1997, won the title again in 2006.
Actor Matthew McConaughey was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2005.
Actor Jude Law, shown here in this 2009 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2004.
Two-time winner Johnny Depp was first named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2003.
Actor Ben Affleck, shown here in this 2013 file photo, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2002.
