Step aside McDreamy — a new TV physician is capturing hearts in scrubs, at least as reported by People magazine.
Noah Wyle, the 55-year-old star of HBO’s hit series The Pitt, has been named People’s latest Sexiest Man Alive.
Upon receiving the announcement, Wyle initially thought it was “a joke,” he shared in an interview with People released on Tuesday. However, his wife managed to persuade him that it was likely genuine.
“She was quite happy that this reflects positively on her taste,” he quipped, adding that he anticipated a lot of teasing from friends and family once the announcement was made.
Wyle first captivated viewers as Dr. John Carter in NBC’s medical series ER during the 1990s. The show enjoyed immense popularity, recognized for its intense storylines and attractive cast; Wyle was featured on the cover of a 1996 “Sexy Men of ER” issue of People magazine, alongside his ER co-star George Clooney, who received the Sexiest Man Alive title twice.
In the 2000s, Wyle starred in the The Librarian film series and earned acclaim for roles in shows such as The Red Line (2019) and Leverage: Redemption (2021-2025). However, it was his comeback to the medical field in 2025 as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in The Pitt that propelled him back into the spotlight.
Wyle and George Clooney, left, the stars of ER, arrive for the 48th Annual Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif., in 1996. (Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images)
The series quickly became a cultural sensation, averaging over 18 million viewers per episode following its full first season launch, according to its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, while receiving 13 prime-time Emmy nominations in its debut year and 25 in its second year.
Wyle has been awarded the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for two consecutive years for his performance on the show.
He mentioned to People that, regardless of the title of sexiest man, he feels most at ease when he is performing.
Wyle poses for photographers at the HBO Max Experience in London in March. (Carlo Paloni/Invision/The Associated Press)
“I enjoy stepping into other characters’ shoes. I like portraying various personas. I often feel self-conscious. Engaging in unscripted conversation as myself remains the most challenging form of interaction for me.”
Wyle succeeds Wicked actor Jonathan Bailey, who was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man in 2025.
While some fans believe Wyle is a fitting choice, others are calling for a reconsideration. In the comments on People’s reveal on Tiktok, one user remarked Wyle was “one of my first crushes while watching ER in the 90s,” whereas another commented, “are we just selecting names randomly now?”
Names ranging from The Boys star Jensen Ackles to Bad Bunny and Wyle’s The Pitt co-star Shawn Hatosy have been mentioned by dissatisfied commenters who feel People has miscalculated this year’s choice.
The title has previously sparked controversy — after Blake Shelton was named in 2017, the decision led to such a backlash that Shelton posted a video of himself reading out his “favorite mean posts.”