Cooper Koch’s Emmy Nomination Sparked a Prison Call. Lyle Menendez Was on the Line

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this article:

• Cooper Koch earned his first Emmy nomination for playing Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
• Lyle Menendez called the actor from prison to personally congratulate him.
• Lyle and Erik have parole hearings next month that could bring them one step closer to freedom.

Actor Cooper Koch received his first Emmy Award nomination on Tuesday for his breakout role in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story—and his character’s real-life brother called to congratulate him from prison.

Koch was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for his captivating portrayal of convicted murderer Erik Menendez in the dramatized crime show about the infamous 1989 double-homicide case. Koch’s performance previously earned him a Golden Globe nod in the same category.

Following his latest honor, Koch received a congratulatory phone call from none other than Lyle Menendez just hours after the 2025 Emmy nominations were announced. “He was just like, ‘Congratulations, I’m so excited for you,’” the 29-year-old told Variety and added that the gesture was “very, very sweet.”

Koch took his Monsters role very seriously. He researched the Menendez brothers case extensively and even turned his trailer into Erik’s room. Since the show premiered, he has been vocal in his support for Erik and Lyle and their efforts for resentencing and release.

Lyle Menendez in February 2018

Erik Menendez in October 2016

The Menendez brothers remain in prison today for the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. After their 1996 convictions, Lyle and Erik were sentenced to life in prison, but Monsters exponentially magnified the renewed interest in their case and led a Los Angeles County district attorney to recommend resentencing. In May, a judge reduced Lyle and Erik’s sentences to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.

Along with his co-star Nicholas Chavez, who played Lyle, Koch is proud of the impact the show has had. “If I, or the show and everybody who worked on the show, has had anything to do to sort of move the needle and impact the real-life events that are happening in front of our eyes, then that just means the world,” Koch recently told Deadline.

To that end, Koch attended the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing in April and has repeatedly expressed his support for their possible release from prison. “I know them now. I feel like they’re my friends, like my brothers,” Koch told Variety. “So it does kind of feel normal [to talk to Lyle and Erik]. It’ll feel way better when they’re out of there.”

Monsters received a total of 11 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series. The show’s first season, about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, earned 13 nods and one trophy. The next two seasons of the show, about grave robber Ed Gein and suspected ax murderer Lizzie Borden, are in progress.

As he prepares for his Emmys campaign, Koch is hoping to shift the attention away from him and onto Erik and Lyle, who are still fighting for freedom. Now that the brothers have been resentenced, they are awaiting a parole hearing, scheduled for next month, that could either recommend them for release or keep them behind bars.

“We’re still sort of living with what’s happening in real time with their case,” Koch said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m just hoping that I can talk more about and advocate for them. I’m like, screw myself. I just want to get them out of prison.”

Catherine Caruso

Associate Profiles Editor

Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.