Who plays Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story? Meet Cooper Koch

The Netflix true crime series Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez dramatizes the harrowing story of the Menendez brothers, with up-and-coming actors Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch playing the title characters. Both actors deliver impressive performances in portraying the fictionalized life story of the convicted murderers, and Koch in particular is receiving praise from critics for his portrayal of younger brother Erik. Will he be the next award-winning actor from the Ryan Murphy-produced anthology? Read on to learn more about Cooper Koch, including his past accolades as an actor.

Cooper Koch was born in Los Angeles and began his acting career at an early age.

Cooper Koch, 28, was born and raised in Woodland Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. He made his first appearance on screen in 2007 as a child actor in the crime thriller Fractionwhich was produced by his grandfather Hawk Koch. Cooper then attended the Pace School of Performing Arts in New York City, graduating in May 2018.

Before MonsterCooper was best known for his supporting roles in projects such as the Starz series Power Book II: Mindthe film of 2020 A New York Christmas Weddingand the 2022 Peacock thriller You/Your. He also starred alongside Jena Malone in the 2022 body horror film Swallowed.

Cooper Koch receives rave reviews for his breakthrough role in Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez.

(Image credit: Carlos Eric Lopez/Netflix)

Cooper Koch comes from a family of Hollywood heavyweights.

According to his IMDb, Koch's family has a long history in Hollywood. His father, Billy Koch, has worked on visual effects for films including Jerry Maguire, Space JamAnd Rugrats in Paris. His grandfather, Hawk Koch, is a successful film producer and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild. Cooper's great-grandfather, Howard W. Koch, was an Emmy-nominated producer and director who worked on films such as Airplane! And The Manchurian Candidate, as well as several Oscar awards.

Moreover, Cooper is not the only member of his generation to follow in the family's footsteps in show business. His twin brother, Payton Koch, is an Emmy-nominated editor who Only murders in the buildingas well as several Ryan Murphy-verse series (from The politician To American Criminal History: Impeachment). The twins have another brother, Walker Koch, who seems to have chosen the path of music rather than filmmaking.

Cooper Koch visits Netflix "Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez" | LA premiere at the Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on September 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Cooper Koch attends the premiere of Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez in Los Angeles.

(Image credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

Cooper Koch is an openly gay actor who is a vocal advocate for queer representation in Hollywood.

Koch has been open about his sexuality throughout his career and often tends towards gay roles. In conversation with the San Francisco Bay Times about his film You/Your In 2022, he spoke openly about accepting himself as a gay man at a young age.

“When I was in high school and freshman year of college, I really didn't want to be who I was,” he told the outlet. “And it wasn't until drama school that I realized that if I wanted to play other people, I had to be myself.”

When asked what it was like to star in the film with a predominantly queer cast, Koch added, “I'm grateful to have been given the chance to star in it. It's right that all the roles are played by real trans, nonbinary and queer people. We should tell these stories more often to raise awareness and represent our community.”

However, Koch is also clear that queer actors in the entertainment industry should not be pigeonholed based on their sexuality. In a 2023 interview with Edge Media Network, he recalled an incident in which an acting coach suggested that he might not have gotten roles because he had “a gay voice.”

“I have a thick skin and I've been bullied in my life since I was a kid, I got fired from a pilot because of it,” he said at the time. “But I don't tolerate it anymore. I just turn around and walk away. And besides, yeah, if you have that opinion or you don't want to work with me because of the way my voice sounds or because I walk or talk a certain way or move my hands a certain way, then I don't want to work with you either, baby.”

Cooper Koch's research for Monsters included transforming his trailer into Erik [Menendez]'s room.'

In an interview with The Wrap during the Monster Koch revealed to Premiere that he had taken intensive measures to put himself in the shoes of the younger Menendez brothers.

“I turned my trailer into Erik's room so I had clothes everywhere, and I had pictures of him on the wall, pictures of me too,” he told the outlet. “I watched videos of myself when I was really little, and I watched how my parents treated me, which gave me a certain level of gratitude for my family and my parents. I listened [Erik] and watched him religiously. And I had my music, I had all kinds of diaries, all kinds of things that helped me really feel like him and be him.”

Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez in episode 203 of “Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story”.

Erik Menendez (Cooper Koch) has trouble adjusting to prison. Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez.

(Image credit: Miles Crist/Netflix)

New fans of Koch postMonster will notice that the rising star does not have an active Instagram as he seems to keep his personal life private. However, he occasionally appears in his co-star Nicholas Chavez's feed as well as his brother Payton Koch's posts. To Monster publication, Payton shared a sweet tribute to his twin on the occasion of his breakthrough role.

“I have never been so proud of another human being,” Payton wrote, posting some behind-the-scenes photos of Cooper filming. Monster. “I love you so much and am so happy for you.”

Who plays Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story? Meet Cooper Koch

Cooper Koch was born in Los Angeles and began his acting career at an early age.

Cooper Koch comes from a family of Hollywood heavyweights.

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Who plays Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story? Meet Cooper Koch

Cooper Koch was born in Los Angeles and began his acting career at an early age.

Cooper Koch comes from a family of Hollywood heavyweights.

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