Noah Wyle, 55, Named People's 2026 Sexiest Man Alive; Social Media Reaction Is Mixed

People magazine has named Noah Wyle, 55, its 2026 Sexiest Man Alive, with the actor appearing on the cover of the magazine's annual issue. Wyle rose to fame alongside George Clooney on "ER" as Dr. John Carter and now stars as Dr. Robby, an emergency physician, in the medical drama "The Pitt." Fox News reported he won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the role on Sunday, shortly before the title was announced.

Wyle discussed the honor on Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, in an episode released Tuesday, where they talked about "ER" and "The Pitt." Poehler told him the show needs more romance. The Times of Israel reported that Wyle drew on his father's Russian-Jewish background to help create Robby, who wears a Star of David necklace.

Right-leaning outlets Daily Mail and Fox News lead with the online reaction, and both headlines stress negativity: the Daily Mail says Wyle was "skewered," while Fox News says the crown "sparks backlash." Both quote social media users who questioned the pick or said he was not the sexiest man on his own show. The Daily Mail names co-star Shawn Hatosy, who plays Dr. Abbott, as the fans' preferred choice and says it has contacted representatives for Wyle and Hatosy. Fox News adds the Emmy context, a pun on his name, and says the criticism was accompanied by plenty of support, describing fans as divided. The Daily Mail describes a career comeback after years of doldrums. Both rely on anonymous social media comments rather than named sources.

Alternative outlets take different angles. Variety leads with Poehler's podcast conversation and her romance feedback, while The Times of Israel focuses on Wyle's Jewish heritage and his character. Left-leaning outlets had not reported the story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had.