Take a Look Back at Chris Evans' Very Sexy Year as He Passes the Sexiest Man Alive Torch

Chris Evans Named Sexiest Man Alive 2022

"My mom will be so happy," Evans joked when he accepted the title of PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive of 2022. "She's proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about."

He does have a lot to be proud of: in his 42 years, the actor has carved out his space in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stood up for rescue dogs and earned a whole lot of fans along the way.

Though he was ribbed by some of his Avengers costars (including fellow "Hollywood Chris" and former Sexiest Man Alive Chris Hemsworth), he also used his title for good, reminding PEOPLE readers to get out and vote in the midterm elections.

He Got Married!

In his PEOPLE cover interview, Evans said he "absolutely" wanted to get married and have children.

"I love the idea of tradition and ceremony, I had a lot of that in my life so the idea of creating that, I can't think of anything better," he shared.

And he soon got started, marrying girlfriend Alba Baptista in a private ceremony in Cape Cod in early September.

"They got serious very quickly," a source told PEOPLE. "He kept saying he knew she was the one."

He Released Two New Projects

The actor dropped two films in 2023: the action-romance Ghosted alongside Ana de Armas, and more recently, Pain Hustlers, which also stars Andy Garcia and Emily Blunt (above).

The movie was based on real-life events (adapted from a New York Times Magazine article and subsequent book, Pain Hustlers: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup), following Blunt and Evans as pharmaceutical sales representatives dealing in pain management.

“It was a role that I was excited to play because it was a real character,” he told GQ prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike.

He Hung with Dog Dodger (and Other Cute Pups)

In honor of National Dog Day in August 2023, Evans made a surprise visit to New York City's Animal Haven to promote dog adoption.

"There are literally thousands of dogs waiting to be adopted all across the country, just like my dog Dodger," Evans said at the start of the video. He ended the clip covered in puppies.

Earlier in the year, Evans and Dodger gave PEOPLE a peek at their collaboration with dog food brand Jinx. And the actor couldn't help but sing his pup's praises.

"He's so honest. He's so genuine. He has no idea who I am other than I'm just his man, that's it," Evans said. "And that's just so refreshing. There's just something about him that feels like a brand new soul, and it just makes me smile every time I see him."

He Gave the Fans What They Wanted at Comic Con

Evans was beaming at his October 2023 New York Comic Con appearance, and gave fans a few details about his two “wonderful and beautiful" weddings to Baptista in Portugal and the U.S.

“It’s a lot planning a wedding. For those of you who are married you know it takes a lot out of you,” the actor said at the event. “But now that we're through that, we've just been enjoying life, gearing up for autumn, my favorite season. Now we're just relaxing and enjoying life and reflecting.”