See the Cast ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez StorySide-by-Side with the Real People They Play

Mar. 15, 2025

Netflix; Nick Ut/AP

After telling the chilling story of serial killerJeffrey Dahmer, creatorsRyan MurphyandIan Brennanare bringing audiences the second installment of theirMonstersanthology series.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyfollows the Menendez brothers, who shot their parents in theirBeverly Hills homein 1989.LyleandErikclaimed that their mother and father abused them, but prosecutors alleged that the crime was a grab at the family fortune. After a lengthy trial, the Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“This season was about abuse … We spent many, many, many years researching this,” Murphy said during ascreening of the seriesin September 2024. “[The show is] more interested in talking about how monsters are made, as opposed to born.”

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Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez

Netflix; Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty

Nicholas Alexander Chavez playsJoseph Lyle Menendez— the older Menendez brother who was 21 years old when he murdered his parents. Lyle is currently serving out his life sentence at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. He is now 56.

While speaking toEntertainment Tonightin September 2024, Chavez said he “thoroughly” prepared for his role inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

“Every actor dreams of doing a period piece,” he said. “There’s a lot of information [about Lyle] and also a lot of information we don’t have. That’s your job as an artist [to fill in the gaps].”

“It’schanged everything about me,” Chavez told PEOPLE of his time on the iconic ABC series. “Before the show, I was selling cars in Florida. This show has given me the gift few people get in life — the privilege to earn an income doing what I love to do every single day.”

Off-screen, Chavez is in a relationship with Victoria Abbott.

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Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez

Cooper Koch plays Erik Menendez — the younger Menendez brother who was 18 years old when he and Lyle murdered their parents. Erik is also incarcerated at theRichard J. Donovan Correctional Facilityin San Diego. He is now 53.

In September 2024, Koch toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat he has a “new sense of gratitude” for his loving parents after studying and portraying Erik.

“That really helped me empathize a lot with Erik and to understand that that’s something that he wasn’t given and didn’t have,” he said.

Koch is relatively new to the industry, acting in a handful ofPower Book II: Ghostepisodes and starring in a few short films.

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Javier Bardem as José Menendez

javier bardem and Jose Menendez.Netflix;AP

Netflix;AP

Javier Bardem portrays José Menendez, Erik and Lyle’s father, who was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States in the 1960s. At the time of his death, José, 45, was the CEO of a successful video distribution company and had an estimated net worth in the tens of millions.

“When the material came, it was obvious that it was something that I would like to be part of because of the conversation [it] will bring to the table about the wounds of abuse through generations,” he said during a screening of the series in N.Y.C.

When he’s not acting, Bardem spends time with his wifePenelope Cruzand their two children,son Leo and daughter Luna.

04of 08Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendezkitty menendez and Chloe Sevigny.Netflix;ABCChloë Sevigny plays Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez — Erik and Lyle’s mother. She met José while they were both studying at Southern Illinois University and the pair wed in 1963. Kitty, a former school teacher, was 47 years old at the time of her murder.In March 2024, Sevigny spoke withHarper’s Bazaarabout embodying Kitty.“I do want to bring dignity to her, even in her faults, and try to empathize with how she felt,” she said. “But turning a blind eye to any sort of sexual abuse — how do you even begin to understand that or play that? … But [Kitty’s] father abused her mother, and it’s the cycle of abuse that the show is really examining.“The Oscar nominee is most known for starring inAmerican PsychoandZodiac.Off-screen, Sevignymarried Sinisa Mackovica few months beforewelcoming their sonVanja in 2020.

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Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez

kitty menendez and Chloe Sevigny.Netflix;ABC

Netflix;ABC

Chloë Sevigny plays Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez — Erik and Lyle’s mother. She met José while they were both studying at Southern Illinois University and the pair wed in 1963. Kitty, a former school teacher, was 47 years old at the time of her murder.

In March 2024, Sevigny spoke withHarper’s Bazaarabout embodying Kitty.

“I do want to bring dignity to her, even in her faults, and try to empathize with how she felt,” she said. “But turning a blind eye to any sort of sexual abuse — how do you even begin to understand that or play that? … But [Kitty’s] father abused her mother, and it’s the cycle of abuse that the show is really examining.”

The Oscar nominee is most known for starring inAmerican PsychoandZodiac.Off-screen, Sevignymarried Sinisa Mackovica few months beforewelcoming their sonVanja in 2020.

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Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne

Netflix; Ron Galella/getty

Nathan Laneplays investigative journalist Dominick Dunne, who covered the Menendez trial forVanity Fairin the ’90s. Dominick was also one of two reporters granted full access to theO.J. Simpson trialin 1995. He died in 2009 at age 83.

According to Dominick’s son, actor Griffin Dunne, he was “not a terribly unbiased” reporter. “During O.J., he sat with the Browns and Nicole’s family …he always looked at it from the rights of the victim,” Griffin told PEOPLE in June 2024.

At the time of the murders, Lane was in his early thirties and just getting his acting career off the ground.

“I can’t say that I followed it all that closely, but once you start to look at either the court testimony or all the other research about what went on in their household, it’s pretty disturbing,” he toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

“I think it was easy for people in the beginning to think these two spoiled rich kids will kill their parents for the money, for the inheritance, but it’s much more complicated,” Lane continued. “It doesn’t change the fact that they committed this horrific act, but I think maybe you start to understand what led to that.”

Lane has been married to his husband,Devlin Elliot, since 2015. He’s best known for voicing Timon in 1994’sThe Lion King, and most recently, playing Teddy Dimas inOnly Murders in the Building.

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Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson

Netflix; Kim Kulish/Sygma via Getty

Ari Graynor plays Los Angeles defense attorney Leslie Abramson who served as Erik’s lead counsel. She was under investigation for some years after the Menendez case due to allegations that she asked Erik’s psychiatrist to delete portions of his notes.The investigation was closedafter the state bar decided there was insufficient evidence against Abramson.

The attorney is now retired, according toThe State Bar of California.

07of 08Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome OzielDallas Roberts as Dr Jerome Oziel in monsters FILE - Psychologist Dr. Jerome Oziel appears on the stand in Van Nuys Superior Court in Los Angeles, Aug. 5, 1993. Oziel, who tipped police to Lyle and Erik Menendez’s killing of their parents surrendered his license Friday Jan. 3, 1997 amid accusations he violated the brothers' confidence and had a sexual relationship with patients. (AP Photo/pool/Nick Ut).Netflix; Nick Ut/APDallas Roberts portrays Dr. Jerome Oziel — the therapist Erik and Lyle see after the murder of their parents. Oziel taped the brothers' confessions and later testified at their trial.He surrendered his medical license in 1997 after he leaked information about the crime to his then-girlfriend, Judalon Smyth, perCNN. Smyth was the original person who tipped the police off about Lyle and Erik’s culpability in the murder of their parents.Viewers will likely recognize Roberts from his roles inThe Good Wifeas well as Netflix’sInsatiable. The actor is married to theater set designer Christine Jones, and the couple share two children.

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Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel

Dallas Roberts as Dr Jerome Oziel in monsters FILE - Psychologist Dr. Jerome Oziel appears on the stand in Van Nuys Superior Court in Los Angeles, Aug. 5, 1993. Oziel, who tipped police to Lyle and Erik Menendez’s killing of their parents surrendered his license Friday Jan. 3, 1997 amid accusations he violated the brothers' confidence and had a sexual relationship with patients. (AP Photo/pool/Nick Ut).Netflix; Nick Ut/AP

Dallas Roberts portrays Dr. Jerome Oziel — the therapist Erik and Lyle see after the murder of their parents. Oziel taped the brothers' confessions and later testified at their trial.

He surrendered his medical license in 1997 after he leaked information about the crime to his then-girlfriend, Judalon Smyth, perCNN. Smyth was the original person who tipped the police off about Lyle and Erik’s culpability in the murder of their parents.

Viewers will likely recognize Roberts from his roles inThe Good Wifeas well as Netflix’sInsatiable. The actor is married to theater set designer Christine Jones, and the couple share two children.

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Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth

Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth in monstersJudalon Smyth testifies at the trial of Lyle and Erik Menendez in Los Angeles, Nov. 12, 1993. (AP Photo/Pool/Reuters).Netflix; AP

Netflix; AP

Leslie GrossmanplaysJudalon Smyth, the girlfriend and former patient of Oziel. Smyth informed police that Oziel was in possession of Erik and Lyle’s confession tapes and she was a key witness in the Menendez brothers' trial.

OnInstagram, Grossman said she felt “grateful and excited” to be cast inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

The actress was married to John Bronson from 1999 to 2020 and the pair share a daughter named Goldie.

source: people.com