See Past Winners with Their Genetically Blessed Sons

Mark Harmon with Sean Harmon

Mark Harmon, the second-ever Sexiest Man Alive, shares two sons with his wife of 38 years, actress Pam Dawber: Sean, born in 1988, and Ty Christian, born in 1992.

While both children entered the film industry, the younger Harmon opted to remain behind the scenes, working on visual effects and screenwriting. Sean became a stunt performer and coordinator, specializing in fight scenes, but has made a few notable on-screen appearances, including playing a younger version of his father’s. NCIS character from 2008 to 2020.

Sean also shares a close bond with his dad — and the same lofty career goals. “For the man who taught me how to be a man,” he captioned a Father’s Day 2016 Instagram post of Mark receiving his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. “Love you dad, and I’m comin for the one next to yours.”

Denzel Washington with Malcolm and John David Washington

Our 1996 cover star Denzel Washington and his wife of 42 years raised two sons (along with daughters Katia and Olivia) who took after their legendary father in the entertainment industry. Malcolm, born in 1991, made his directorial debut with The Piano Lesson at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, while John David, born in 1984, earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in 2018’s BlacKkKlansman.

“When I think of what I’m proudest of, anything I’ve accomplished doesn’t even come to mind,” Denzel told Esquire in November 2024. “It’s our children: They’re good people. They know right from wrong. What else can you ask for, you know?”

John David gushed about his dad in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE, calling the two-time Oscar winner “my favorite actor.”

“I think the best actor in the industry, in the business, is my father,” he said. “He’s been on the frontline for many years and what he’s done with it, with his opportunities, I just am so inspired and continue to be inspired by what he does and how he works and his approach to the craft and the business.”

Richard Gere with Homer Gere

Richard Gere, who was half of PEOPLE’s only Sexiest Couple Alive and the 1999 Sexiest Man Alive, has one son with ex-wife Carey Lowell: Homer James Jigme, born in 2000. (He also is raising three young sons with his wife Alejandra Silva.)

In March 2015, Richard told the Hindustan Times that fatherhood took priority over his professional life.

“My film decisions are mostly mine, but I’m very careful about not being away from my son for very long,” he told the outlet. “If I have to be away for long, I talk to him about it, and if there is a problem, I don’t take up the project.”

A graduate of Brown University, Homer will soon steer into his dad’s lane when he appears in a recurring role on the third season of HBO’s Euphoria.

Pierce Brosnan with Paris and Dylan Brosnan

The 2001 Sexiest Man Alive, Pierce Brosnan, may better known to you as Bond, James Bond. The actor, already a father of three from his marriage to late wife Cassandra Harris, welcomed two more sons with Keely Shaye Smith: Dylan, born in 1997, and Paris, born in 2001.

Just like their father, Dylan and Paris entered the entertainment industry fairly young. Dylan graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and went on to help create Western Stars with Bruce Springsteen and the docu-series Willie Nelson & Familyamong others.

Meanwhile, Paris worked as a production assistant for 2022’s Black Adam and directed a short film documenting a 2019 trip to Sri Lanka, highlighting the partnership between Clarins and FEED to support school meal programs worldwide. He’s also taken a foray into modeling and environmental activism.

Although Pierce supports all his sons’ endeavors, he steers them away from one career: his own. “Just because (acting is) f—— hard work,” he told GQ in 2022. “It’s a cross to bear. You’re constructing and destroying yourself.”

They know that if they wanted to become actors, Pierce would provide the best guidance. “You have to go all in. I think having Dad help us, it’d be a little intimidating, but he’s also the best coach we could ask for if he wanted to do it!” Paris told PEOPLE in 2022.

Matthew McConaughey with Levi McConaughey

The 2005 Sexiest Man Alive, Matthew McConaughey, has an aspiring actor for a son. Levi, his eldest child with wife Camila Alves McConaughey, played opposite his dad in 2025’s The Lost Busin which the 17-year-old plays Matthew’s on-screen kid Shaun.

Although he has an Oscar winner for a father, Levi told PEOPLE in 2025 that he had to “badger” his dad to audition for the Lost Bus role. Matthew relented but asked the casting director to redact Levi’s last name from the audition tape. The director, Paul Greengrass, selected him on his own merit.

On whether he’s felt any pressure being Matthew McConaughey’s son, Levi acknowledged, “It’s just starting.”

He has a mature perspective on his upbringing, however, adding, “As much as people can say, ‘Oh, you got this because of your father or your mother,’ they can open the door, but then it’s going to be up to me to do my thing once I get in there. That’s on me.”

David Beckham with Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz Beckham

David Beckham, 2015’s Sexiest Man Alive, and his wife Victoria have three sons (in addition to daughter Harper) whose public profiles are rising to match their parents’. Brooklyn, born in 1999, Romeo, born in 2002, and Cruz, born in 2005, have all forged their own paths.

Brooklyn dabbled in modeling and photography before finding his passion for cooking, encouraged by his wife Nicola Peltz to share his cooking adventures on social media.

Romeo briefly pursued a professional football career (like his dad) but stepped away from the pitch to explore the modeling and fashion industry (like his mom!). Meanwhile, Cruz took after Victoria by focusing on music, releasing his first single at age 11 with the song “If Every Day Was Christmas.”

“I still learn from my parents, I still watch them, they still guide me,” David told The Father Hood in 2019. “And I’ve tried to do the same with my children. Because they do have a different upbringing to what I had. But the work ethic still has to come from the parents.”

Patrick Dempsey with Darby and Sullivan Dempsey

The Sexiest Man Alive of 2023, Patrick Dempsey, and his wife Jillian welcomed twin sons Darby and Sullivan in 2007, five years after the birth of their eldest daughter Talula. The twins, who recently graduated from high school, have already flaunted the model-worthy looks they inherited from Dad in a photoshoot that Jillian shared on Instagram in September.

“They keep me very active,” Patrick said of his sons in his 2023 cover story. “I need to stay in shape to keep up with them. The older you get, the more work you have to put in.”