Bradley Cooper Nominates Richard Gere for Sexiest Man Alive

By Julia Haskins and Gabrielle Olya

10/23/2012 at 01:20 PM EDT

Bradley Cooper (left) and Richard Gere

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Stephen Lovekin/Getty

November may be a tough month for the current reigning Sexiest Man Alive Bradley Cooper, who will be forced to relinquish his title in a few weeks when PEOPLE bestows the honor upon another deserving actor.

"I'm in therapy three times a week, but I think I'll get through it," the star of already critically-praised Silver Linings Playbook told PEOPLE at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills on Monday.

While Former Sexiest Man Alive (and Argo director and star) Ben Affleck also made an appearance at the gala, Cooper had his eye on another past winner when asked who should be 2012's Sexiest Man Alive.

"Maybe [Richard Gere]," he said, pointing as the dapper actor, who was 1999's winner, walked the carpet nearby.

Gere was given the Hollywood Career Achievement Award at Monday's awards gala, but Cooper had a slightly different reason for his decision.

"He's sexy," he said of Gere. "You could take it from there."