Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyfollows real-life killers, Lyle and Erik Menéndez, who murdered their parents in the late 1980s, and similar tothe cast ofMonsterseason 1,the list of actors inThe Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyis impressive.The Netflix biographical crime anthology TV show is the second installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’sMonsterseries. Jeffrey Dahmer was at the center of the award-winning first season ofMonster(Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), while season 2, which premieres on July 16, 2025, covers Lyle and Erik Menéndez.
Monsterseason 2 tells the true story of the Menéndez brothers' crimes and lives, includingLyle and Erik’s actions before, during, and after the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in 1989.Their case fascinated the nation, especially during their trial when their motives were debated. So, it makes sense why Murphy and Brennan settled on the Menéndez brothers' story forMonsterseason 2.
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez StoryCast
Nicholas Alexander Chavez As Lyle Menéndez
Date Of Birth: July 20, 2025
Actor:Nicholas Alexander Chavez was born in Houston, Texas, but was raised in Denver, Colorado. Following high school graduation, he attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University for two years before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.Chavez’s first starring role was as a series regular inGeneral Hospital.He played Spencer Cassadine in the ABC soap opera from 2021 to 2024 until he wascast as Lyle Menéndez inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Grotesquerie
Father Charlie
Character:Chavez stars as Lyle Menéndez inthe cast ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyon Netflix.Lyle is the older brother(21 years old at the time) who, with the help of Erik, murders their parents. Afterward, Lyle and Erik went on a spending spree with their new inheritance. However, their glamorous life would soon come to an end when the brothers were arrested for the murders of José and Kitty Menéndez.
How Does Character Compare?The Netflix seriesMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyadded several things to the story that weren’t based on real life. One of the biggest additions is the relationship between Lyle and his younger brother, Erik. The Netflix series hints that they had an incestuous relationship, which has never been proven or revealed in real life. They even testified under oath that they never had a sexual relationship with each other, but the series chose to add it to add some drama.
Cooper Koch As Erik Menéndez
Date Of Birth: June 07, 2025
Actor:Cooper Koch was born in Woodland Hills, Calabasas in Los Angeles County, California. He attended the Pace School of Performing Arts in New York City, where he received a bachelor’s degree in acting in 2018.Koch’s breakout role came when he starred as Stu inthe cast of the slasher filmThey/Themin 2022.
Erik Menéndez
Character:Koch portrays Erik Menéndez in the second season of Ryan Murphy’s biographical crime anthology TV series on Netflix.Erik was only 18 years old when he and Lyle killed their parents, which was a few months before his 19th birthday. Like his brother, Erik’s motive for murdering José and Kitty was out of fear after years of alleged physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
How Does Character Compare?: There were scenes inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storythat changed what happened in real life. One of these happened after the murders of the parents. In the series, the brothers killed their parents and then went to see a movie, hoping it would deliver an alibi. They also go to a restaurant, which was all completely fictional. Erik and his brother Lyle never left the house after killing their parents, waiting for someone to show up after the murder, although no one did.
Javier Bardem As José Menéndez
Date Of Birth: June 19, 2025
Actor:Javier Bardem was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, Spain. His mother, Pilar Bardem, was a Spanish actress, and many other members of his family were in the entertainment business. So, Bardem’s journey to becoming an actor isn’t all that surprising.Bardem’s early roleswere in Spanish films such asThe Ages of LuluandJamón jamón, which also starred his future wife, Penélope Cruz. However,Bardem’s breakthrough came when he starred as Reinaldo Arenas in the 2000 American filmBefore Night Falls,which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
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Following on from Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, Monster season 3 reveals who will be playing its lead serial killer, Ed Gein.
Jamón jamón
José Menéndez
Character:José Menéndez, played by Bardem, isone of the two murder victimsinthe shockingMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyon Netflix. Lyle and Erik killed their parents, José and Kitty, on July 02, 2025. During the trial, the brothers accused their father and mother of abusing them, explaining that’s why they killed them.
How Does Character Compare?: The biggest mystery in the entire case was whether José did sexually molest his children. The case for the boys relied on the jury believing their dad assaulted them, and they were in fear for their lives. However, this was left open in the series. In real life, things have become more known in the years since the murders. Roy Roseello of the boy band Menudo claimed that José Menendez raped him when he was a teen, and new evidence indicates the brothers were telling the truth, opening the door for a possible re-sentencing opportunity.
Chloë Sevigny As Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez
Date Of Birth: August 12, 2025
Actress:Chloë Sevigny was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, but she was raised in Connecticut. When she was 17 years old, Sevigny was discovered by a fashion editor while walking the streets of New York City, and thus, her modeling career began. Sevigny started acting in 1995 when she starred in the controversial independent filmKids, which earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Female.Sevigny continued her movie career, butshe truly rose to prominence withBoys Don’t Cryin 1990. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in the film.
Kitty Menéndez
Character:Sevigny plays Kitty Menéndez, Lyle and Erik’s mother, inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. As seen inthe trailer for Netflix’sMonstersseason 2,the Menéndez matriarch seemingly didn’t treat her sons well.Then, one night, Lyle and Erik walked into the family’s mansion with shotguns and began shooting José and Kitty, killing them.
How Does Character Compare?: One of the biggest changes from real life came with the depiction of Kitty Menendez. InMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the brothers testified that Kitty was an enabler. They said she knew that Jose was sexually assaulting them and did nothing to stop it. That is why they killed her, too. However, in real life, Erik and Lyle testified that Kitty abused them too, something that the Netflix series chose to omit, possibly making Kitty seem more tragic when she died.
Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story Supporting Cast & Characters
Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne- Dominick Dunne, played by Nathan Lane inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, wasaVanity Fairwriter who covered the Menéndez brothers' casein the early 1990s. A well-known actor, some ofNathan Lane’s best moviesareThe Lion KingandBeau Is Afraid. However, Lane has starred in numerous TV shows, includingOnly Murders in the Building, which earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2022.
Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson- Ari Graynor stars as Leslie Abramson, Erik’s defense attorney, in the Netflix biographical crime series. Viewers may recognize Graynor from her roles inThe Sopranos,Fringe, orNick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel- Dallas Roberts' Dr. Oziel is Erik’s therapist in theRyan Murphy TV show. Before starring inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Roberts' credits includeThe Walking Dead,The Good Wife,Chicago PD, andGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth- The last star in the cast ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyis Leslie Grossman, who portrays Judalon Smyth. Judalon was romantically attached to Dr. Oziel and played a key role in Lyle and Erik’s arrests. Grossman is most known for her role as Lauren inWhat I Like About Youon The WB, but she is alsoone of Murphy’s frequent collaborators,appearing inNip/Tuckand multipleseasons ofAmerican Horror Story.
Cast
This true crime drama delves into the infamous case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents. The series examines the complex family dynamics and legal battles that captivated the nation, highlighting the motivations and repercussions of their actions.
