For Emmy-nominated actor Cooper Koch, the road to awards season included a surreal twist: a congratulatory call from none other than Lyle Menendez, dialling in from California’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
Koch, nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for portraying Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, was mid-interview with Variety when the prison call came through.
“He was jealous that I was at Wimbledon this weekend,” Koch later told Entertainment Weekly, laughing about the unexpected moment.
“He called to send his congrats and was very, very sweet.”
From Wimbledon to the Walk of Fame
At just 28, Koch finds himself in heavyweight company. His fellow nominees include Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent), and Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief). Yet Koch’s thoughts remain with the real-life figures behind the drama that earned him his nomination.
In May, a judge resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. The brothers are now preparing to plead their cases before California’s parole board in August.
“This is sort of like the end of an era,” Koch told EW.
“What a great way to put it to bed. Hopefully that will also go with the brothers getting released by the end of the summer.”
If Lyle is granted parole, Koch may have a new challenger lined up—a tennis match. During the prison call, Lyle reportedly bragged about his on-court skills.
A Bittersweet Recognition
While Koch earned critical praise and a leading nomination for his portrayal of Erik, many were surprised by the omissions of co-star Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who played Lyle, and Ari Graynor, who portrayed the Menendez brothers’ formidable defence lawyer, Leslie Abramson.
“I was devastated,” Koch told The Hollywood Reporter. “Nick and Ari both delivered powerhouse performances.”
Still, the Monsters series wasn’t short on accolades. Beyond Koch’s lead nomination, the series secured 10 additional Emmy nominations, including:
- Supporting Actor and Actress: Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as José and Kitty Menendez
- Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- Outstanding Casting
- Picture Editing, Sound Mixing, Hairstyling, Period Costumes, Makeup, and Music Composition
