Who is Nicholas Alexander Chavez? Meet Monsters' Lyle Menendez actor

Season 2 focuses on the story of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were found guilty of the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, and were sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

As you would expect with a Murphy production, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story boasts a a star-studded cast, featuring the likes of Chloë Sevigny and Javier Bardem.

However, rising stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, take on the leading roles of Lyle and Erik, respectively.

Speaking about how starring in the show has changed his life, Koch told People: "What's so exciting about this part of my life is that there's been all this conversation about Monsters. There's people who I love and who I admire who are actually watching the show, and then they're writing me and they're saying, 'I love your work,'".

He continued: "And so to hear from people whose work I respect so much, that they feel that way about me, that feels just otherworldly."

Wondering where you’ve seen Chavez before? Read on for everything you need to know about the star.

Who is Nicholas Alexander Chavez?

Chavez is an American actor whose big break came in 2012 when he was cast in the popular daytime soap General Hospital.

He plays the eldest Menendez brother, Lyle, in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix.

How old is Nicholas Alexander Chavez?

Chavez is 25 years old at the time of writing.

He was a few years older than his Monsters character Lyle Menendez, who was 21 at the time of the murders.

What else has Nicholas Alexander Chavez been in?

Chavez rose to fame starring as Spencer Cassadine in General Hospital, a role which bagged him the 2022 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series.

He’s also set to star in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming horror series Grotesquerie as Father Charlie.

Speaking about what drew him to the project on the red carpet for the Monsters premiere, he recently told What to Watch: "I think it was Ryan's enthusiasm."

He continued: "He is so excited about Grotesquerie, as am I. It was an incredible show to work on, so much fun.

"When Ryan called, I was ecstatic. I was still working with him on Monsters, and I was overjoyed that he wanted to give me another opportunity to play an interesting character in one of his worlds."

What has Nicholas Alexander Chavez said about starring in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story?

Speaking about the process he underwent to prepare to play Lyle, he recently told Entertainment Weekly: "I had to do an extensive amount of research.

"This guy is a really compelling and complicated character, and I wanted to be thorough. He has left such a strong impression on me, and I'm very glad that there are so many materials out there that I could read. I was glad that I could watch the court TV, and I could really see a glimpse into what happened."

Meanwhile, asked about whether the Menendez family's response to the series has made him reevaluate the series, Chavez responded in an interview with Screen Rant: "I think that I stand with them. I understand how they feel. It's incredibly difficult for them because this is their family, and it's so hard to see this happen in a televised, theatrical, dramatized version. So, I get it."

He continued: "I stand with them, and I hope people leave the show feeling sympathetic for the brothers. I hope that they get to get a re-sentencing and hopefully get some parole."

In addition, speaking about Lyle's wig in the show, which was forced upon him by his parents when he began losing his hair, Chavez told Deadline: "I saw this wig as a mask of sorts."

He added: "It’s not one that he imposes on himself. It’s imposed by his father and the perfectionist standard that Lyle has to live up to. It’s a mask that hides a deeply, deeply wounded inner child who surfaces in episodes four."

He continued: “It was interesting because several of the people who I met told me they could tell that Lyle was wearing a piece. And when you wear a piece, there is certain behaviour that goes along with that.

"You sort of angle your head in a very specific way, maybe even subconsciously, to try to keep distance between it and the person you’re talking to."

Is Nicholas Alexander Chavez on Instagram?

Yes, he can be found at the handle @nicholasalexanderchavez.

He has over 100,000 thousand followers.

Is Nicholas Alexander Chavez on Twitter?

Chavez also has Twitter (now X), and can be found at the handle @nicholasachavez.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is now streaming on Netflix – sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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