Meet the new 'Sexiest Man Alive'

Chris Hemsworth was named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2014 Tuesday night on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." He joins this illustrious list of past honorees....

Keira Knightley and Adam Levine found love in "Begin Again" in 2013 and "The Voice" coach found himself dubbed People's sexiest man alive.

Channing Tatum (with Alex Pettyfer in "Magic Mike") stripped down and won the honor in 2012.

Bradley Cooper made fans laugh in "The Hangover Part II" in 2011, and swoon as the sexiest man alive.

In 2010, "Buried" star Ryan Reynolds became the first Canadian on the list.

Johnny Depp (seen here in "Public Enemies") was a suave choice in 2009. It was his second time on the list.

Hugh Jackman brought the sexy in "Australia" and on the cover of People in 2008.

Matt Damon had a hit with "Ocean's Thirteen" in 2007 and sexy bragging rights.

In 2006, George Clooney starred in "The Good German" and became the second man to grab the title twice.

Alright, alright alright!. 2005 was Matthew McConaughey's year of sexy. Here, he is seen in "Sahara."

"Closer" was Jude Law's starring role in 2004, but he made more buzz with the People pick.

Johnny Depp starred in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" in 2003 and on the cover of People's sexiest man issue.

"Daredevil" got mixed reviews for Ben Affleck, but even critics couldn't argue with his 2002 sexiest man selection.

Pierce Brosnan (seen here with Jamie Lee Curtis in "The Tailor of Panama") was the pick for 2001.

In 2000, Brad Pitt appeared with Julia Roberts in "The Mexican" and made one of two appearances on the sexy list.

1999 was a good year for Richard Gere: He reunited with "Pretty Woman" co-star Julia Roberts for the film "Runaway Bride;" he turned 50; and he was named sexiest man alive.

Harrison Ford and Anne Heche appeared in the movie "6 Days,7 Nights," in 1996 and he also snagged the title and cover.

George Clooney (seen here with Michael Gough in "Batman & Robin") was both the caped crusader and the sexiest man alive in 1997.

In 1996, Denzel Washington (seen here in "Courage Under Fire") became the first and only African-American to nab the title.

Brad Pitt got gritty in 1995 in the psychological thriller "Se7en," but it was his good looks that landed him the sexiest man cover that year. Good thing, too, as fans were thirsting given that there was no selection in 1994.

The magazine didn't name a sexiest man in 1993 or 1994. Instead, they went with Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere as the sexiest couple alive in a two-for-one deal.

Nick Nolte won accolades in 1992 for his acting in "Lorenzo's Oil," as well as the nod from People as the sexiest man.

"Dirty Dancing" made him a big star, but the late Patrick Swayze was still riding high in 1991 with "Point Break" when he earned the honor.

Tom Cruise (seen here in "Days of Thunder") was a hot selection in 1990.

He may have been almost 60 in 1989, but that didn't stop People from finding "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" co-star Sean Connery sexy.

The late John F. Kennedy Jr. (seen here with then-girlfriend Christina Haag circa 1988 in New York) was neither a movie nor TV star, but his dashing good looks earned him the title in 1988.

The jury ruled "L.A. Law" star Harry Hamlin was the perfect selection for 1987.

Mark Harmon was the quintessential '80s hunk and 1986's winner.

Before he was known for getting mad, Mel Gibson's fame from the "Mad Max" films led him to be named People's first sexiest man alive in 1985.

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• Chris Hemsworth is People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2014


• The Marvel star has become a box office hit as Thor


• He's also a father and older brother to "Hunger Games" star Liam Hemsworth

(CNN) -- When you're talking about Chris Hemsworth being named People magazine's new Sexiest Man Alive, don't make the mistake of calling him "that guy from 'The Hunger Games.'"

No, Chris Hemsworth is the ripped Australian actor who's made a name for himself as the hammer-wielding Thor in Marvel's blockbuster movies. The Hemsworth who does star in "The Hunger Games" franchise is actually Hemsworth's younger brother, Liam.

While the two siblings have competed for a role once before -- they actually both auditioned to play Marvel's Norse god, with Liam being a serious contender -- there's no beef between them about Chris landing at the top of People magazine's "sexy" list.

"Liam's been good; we've been throwing sexy looks back and forth all week," Hemsworth, 31, said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tuesday, where his People magazine cover was revealed. "He's been a real team player."

And what does Hemsworth himself think of his sexy status?

"I'm most excited about the 'alive' portion of that statement," Hemsworth joked. "The sexy is a bonus, and I'm flattered."

Aside from his hotness, here are a few other things you should know about the star:

Before he was Thor, he was a TV star Down Under

Chris Hemsworth earned his first acting credit in 2002, and in 2004 he landed the role of Kim Hyde on the Australian soap opera "Home and Away." After starring on the series for three years, Hemsworth moved on to the big screen, landing a part in J.J. Abrams' 2009 "Star Trek" as George Kirk.

He's actually the middle Hemsworth brother

There are two Hemsworth siblings that are currently dominating our movie screens, but there's actually a third Hemsworth brother, Luke. He's the eldest, and is three years older than Chris.

"We grew up surfing and stuff," Liam, 24, told Details magazine of their upbringing in Melbourne, Australia. "That's why we can laugh (at the movie industry). This business is ridiculous."

He's married to Spanish actress Elsa Pataky

Just as Chris Hemsworth's reputation as Hollywood's newest heartthrob was taking off, he settled down and tied the knot with Spanish actress Elsa Pataky in 2010.

When his wife learned that she's married to the "Sexiest Man Alive," she thought "it was pretty funny," Hemsworth told People. "We had a good laugh about it."

Perhaps that's because, in the Hemsworth household, Pataky still reigns as "the sexiest thing in the world," Hemsworth said.

He's a major family man

Chris and Elsa have been steadily building a family since they wed in 2010. In 2012, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter India Rose, and in March 2014 they added twin boys to their brood.

With his movie commitments, Hemsworth has admitted that it isn't easy balancing fatherhood with his superhero duties. "It makes it harder and harder to leave and go to work," he told People of being a dad last year. "I enjoy being at home a lot more than I ever have."

He's not only about Marvel movies

So far, Hemsworth has starred in two "Thor" movies -- 2011's "Thor" and 2013's "Thor: The Dark World" -- and he has a third sequel on the way. That's not even counting the times he suits up to star in Marvel's "Avengers" movies.

Between that demanding schedule, Hemsworth is squeezing in other dramatic work. In 2013, he starred as British race car driver James Hunt in "Rush," and in 2015 he'll appear in Ron Howard's action adventure, "In the Heart of the Sea," and a comedy called "Vacation."