Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Transformation From Alien to Hot Heartthrob

By Alyse Whitney

Updated on Feb 18, 2016 at 2:00 AM

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of Hollywood's hottest guys, but he wasn't always this way. Back in the '90s, when he started his career as an alien on 3rd Rock From the Sun, no one would have guessed that he would later transform into one of the most swoon-worthy celebs. Through the years, JGL has donned many looks for roles and in real life, including a bulked-up New Jersey sex addict, a goofy-faced lip-syncer, and even yoda, so in honor of our lifelong crush on him, we've rounded them all up here.

3rd Rock From the Sun Wasn't His Best Look, but He Was Still Young in the '90s! — NBC

3rd Rock From the Sun Wasn't His Best Look, but He Was Still Young in the '90s!

Back in 2001, He and Zooey Deschanel Looked Completely Different — Getty | J. Vespa

Back in 2001, He and Zooey Deschanel Looked Completely Different

At the Treasure Planet Premiere in 2002, This Outfit Happened — Getty | Albert L. Ortega

At the Treasure Planet Premiere in 2002, This Outfit Happened

In 2003, This Almost-Bowl-Cut Look Was Not a Favorite — Getty | Stephen Lovekin

In 2003, This Almost-Bowl-Cut Look Was Not a Favorite

The "Long Hair, Don't Care" Mentality Returned in 2004 — Getty | Peter Kramer

The "Long Hair, Don't Care" Mentality Returned in 2004

And He Brought Along Hot-Pink, Patterned Outfits in 2005 — Getty | Tony Barson

And He Brought Along Hot-Pink, Patterned Outfits in 2005

In 2006, He Shaved Off All His Hair — Getty | Kevin Winter

In 2006, He Shaved Off All His Hair

Then, Without Warning, in 2007, He Was Completely Clean Cut — Getty | Munawar Hosain

Then, Without Warning, in 2007, He Was Completely Clean Cut

But It Was Followed by This Sexy, Scruffy Face For the Film Uncertainty — Getty | Marcel Thomas

But It Was Followed by This Sexy, Scruffy Face For the Film Uncertainty

Then in 2008, He Was Smoldering in Every Way — Getty | Kevin Winter

Then in 2008, He Was Smoldering in Every Way

He Brought Clean-Shaven Smirks in 2008, Too — Getty | Alberto E. Rodriguez

He Brought Clean-Shaven Smirks in 2008, Too

When (500) Days of Summer Happened in 2009, We Had 500 Reasons to Love Joseph — Getty | Jeff Vespa

When (500) Days of Summer Happened in 2009, We Had 500 Reasons to Love Joseph

This Bow Tie Wowed Us in 2010 — Getty | Duffy-Marie Arnoult

This Bow Tie Wowed Us in 2010

He Looked So Nice, He Wore Them Twice (Actually, All the Time) — Getty | Jeff Vespa

He Looked So Nice, He Wore Them Twice (Actually, All the Time)

Through the Years, His Goofy Faces Have Always Been Hot — Getty | Charley Gallay

Through the Years, His Goofy Faces Have Always Been Hot

And When He Sang in 2010, We Nearly Died — Getty | Lester Cohen

And When He Sang in 2010, We Nearly Died

He Even Looks Great in Uniform, as Seen in The Dark Knight Rises — Getty | Marcel Thomas

He Even Looks Great in Uniform, as Seen in The Dark Knight Rises

When He Got New Frames in 2012, He Made Glasses Sexy — Getty | Michael Tran

When He Got New Frames in 2012, He Made Glasses Sexy

Yep, Glasses Just Work on Him — Getty | Jason LaVeris

Yep, Glasses Just Work on Him

OK, Just Look at This Smirk. Who Can Deny That? — Getty | Pascal Le Segretain

OK, Just Look at This Smirk. Who Can Deny That?

The SMIRK! — Getty | Kevin Winter

The SMIRK!

In 2013, He Displayed His Goofy Charm Yet Again — Getty | Jason Merritt

In 2013, He Displayed His Goofy Charm Yet Again

His Lip-Sync Battle on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Was a Win — Getty | Theo Wargo

His Lip-Sync Battle on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Was a Win

Slow-Motion Running, Anyone? — Getty | Jason Merritt

Slow-Motion Running, Anyone?

In 2013's Don Jon, His Bulked-Up Sex Addict Character Even Did It For Us — Getty

In 2013's Don Jon, His Bulked-Up Sex Addict Character Even Did It For Us

Source: Relativity Media

When He Got Goofy With Tony Danza in 2013, Our Hearts Stopped — Getty | Larry Busacca

When He Got Goofy With Tony Danza in 2013, Our Hearts Stopped

Here He Is With 3rd Rock Costar John Lithgow, 13 Years Later — Getty | Jonathan Leibson

Here He Is With 3rd Rock Costar John Lithgow, 13 Years Later

If Looks Could Kill, His Sharp Oscars Ensemble in 2014 Would Definitely Be Deadly — Getty | Jeff Vespa

If Looks Could Kill, His Sharp Oscars Ensemble in 2014 Would Definitely Be Deadly

JGL Showed Everyone on the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Red Carpet How It's Done — Getty | Alberto E. Rodriguez

JGL Showed Everyone on the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Red Carpet How It's Done

He Was Named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year in 2016, Resulting in Whatever Is Happening Here — Getty | Darren McCollester

He Was Named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year in 2016, Resulting in Whatever Is Happening Here