The Smoking Nun's Sexiest Man Alive 2011: Joe Manganiello

Joseph Michael "Joe" Manganiello may be best known for his role as werewolf Alcide Herveaux on HBO's True Blood, but now the American actor has a new accolade: The Smoking Nun's Sexiest Man Alive for 2011. And a very happy birthday, Joe, who turned 35 this week, on Wednesday, December 28.

And who did Smoking Nun readers vote for? Jed Hill was the surprise favorite, followed by the Nun's 2010 victor Rodiney Santiago, and in third place, Manganiello.

Joe wins this auspicious trophy thanks to his penetrating chestnut eyes, hair that drapes just so over his chiseled face (and looks as good short) and a set of abs that he is gracious enough to share regularly with the world. That's real generosity in The Smoking Nun's playbook.

And he ain't just dripping hot sexy, either. The 6-foot-5-inch Pittsburgh native, who was the captain of his football, basketball, and volleyball teams in high school, is a classically trained actor with a BFA from Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama. Among his breakout roles: Flash Thompson in the Spider Man film franchise and recurring parts on ER, How I Met Your Mother and One Tree Hill.

For his work on True Blood, Manganiello received 2011 Scream Awards for Male Breakout Performance and a shared Best Ensemble trophy; a Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role in TV; and a New Now Next Award.

Of course, in 2012, he will play Big Dick Mike in the much anticipated Steven Soderbergh-directed Magic Mike, as well as the upcoming flick What to Expect When You're Expecting.

In 2010 Manganiello was named one of People mag's sexiest men alive, was ranked No. 1 on Men's Health's best Summer Bodies of 2011, "one of the World's 25 Fittest Guys" by Men's Fitness, and the winner of Us Weekly's 2011 "Sharp Dressed Man" Award. He was also named the summer of 2011's Hottest Male Supernatural Being by Entertainment Weekly.