Cooper Koch rapidly rose to prominence due to his breakout position in Netflix’s anthology sequence Monsters: The Lyle an Erik Menendez Story. The Los Angeles-born actor portrayed Erik Menéndez, one of many notorious brothers convicted of killing their mother and father in 1989, and his chilling but layered efficiency drew widespread consideration. Cooper revealed that he immersed himself in Erik’s private historical past to totally embody the position — a dedication that clearly paid off, because it earned him his first Primetime Emmy nomination in 2025.
Nonetheless early in his profession and with solely a handful of credit to his identify, Koch has change into one in all Hollywood’s most intently watched rising stars. Followers are wanting to know extra in regards to the actor past his acclaimed efficiency, and his Emmy recognition has solely amplified that curiosity.
Hollywood Life has rounded up 5 info about Cooper, under!
Cooper Koch Performed Erik Menendez in Monsters
Whereas talking with TheWrap in an interview revealed in September 2024, Cooper defined how he managed to step into his character’s footwear.
“I turned my trailer into Erik’s room, so I had garments in all places, and I had footage of him on the wall, footage of me too,” Cooper identified. “I checked out movies of me once I was actually younger, and I watched how my mother and father handled me, which gave me a degree of gratitude for my household and my mother and father. I listened to [Erik] and watched him religiously. And I had my music, I had all completely different sorts of journals, all completely different sorts of issues to assist me actually really feel like him and be him.”
This present introduced renewed consideration to the Menendez brothers’ case together with new proof discovered. On October 24, 2024, throughout a press convention, Los Angeles District Lawyer George Gascón advisable resentencing for Lyle and Erik, with the opportunity of speedy parole, pending a choose’s closing determination. Following this information, Cooper launched an announcement via his brother Payton Koch on Instagram Tales, as he doesn’t have social media. The assertion learn, “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and hope for the progress we’ve seen immediately. Gascón’s advice has ignited a renewed sense of risk that Lyle and Erik might lastly be launched after a long time behind bars. However, this journey is just not over.”
He continued,“There are nonetheless essential steps forward: the choose should endorse the resentencing, and, if that occurs, the parole board should acknowledge the time they’ve served as becoming for the crime. Our voices, our unwavering assist, stay essential-not only for the brothers to make sure their launch, but in addition for each sufferer of sexual abuse preventing to be heard. I hope to see Erik and Lyle quickly. Free from all of this.”
In April 2025, Cooper attended the Menendez brothers’ resentencing listening to in Van Nuys, California, per Newsweek.
Cooper Koch Has a Twin Brother
Cooper has a twin brother named Payton Koch. Payton isn’t an actor, however he works within the leisure trade as a movie editor. Actually, per his IMDb web page, Payton was nominated for an Emmy Award. Amongst Payton’s most notable credit as a sequence editor have been for a number of episodes of Solely Murders within the Constructing and American Horror Story.
Cooper Koch’s Household Works in Leisure
Except for his brother, Cooper comes from a household of entertainers. Based on his IMDb web page, Cooper’s father is Billy Koch, who has labored as a visible results editor on a number of movies, equivalent to Jerry Maguire and House Jam. His grandfather, Hawk Koch, is a film producer and the earlier President of the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild.
Cooper’s great-grandfather, Howard W. Koch, labored as a producer and a director. Amongst his most notable credit embrace The Manchurian Candidate and Airplane II: The Sequel.
Cooper Koch Received His First Movie Function in 2018
Cooper landed his first gig in 2018 within the movie West 40s and steadily earned extra roles. His most well-known credit embrace They/Them, Swallowed and Energy E book II: Ghost.
Though he grew up in Los Angeles County, Cooper moved to New York Metropolis, the place he earned his BFA in Performing from the Tempo College of Performing Arts.
Cooper Koch Has a Boyfriend
Cooper and his boyfriend, Stuart McClave, attended their first public occasion collectively in March 2025. For some time, Cooper performed it coy each time he’d briefly focus on his relationship, however he lastly broke his silence on his and Stuart’s love on the GLAAD Media Awards.
Throughout a crimson carpet interview with Leisure Tonight on the occasion, Cooper gushed about Stuart, saying, “He’s simply obtained me so grounded and pulls me right down to the earth and holds me when it’s loads. He’s been so supportive and candy, and he’s been the most effective accomplice I might ask for.”
Just some months later, Koch’s profession hit a brand new excessive level when he acquired his first Primetime Emmy nomination for his efficiency as Erik Menéndez in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Having his accomplice by his facet via the whirlwind of press and awards season made the milestone all of the extra significant.
