Actor Portraying Lyle Menendez in Monsters: Key Information You Need to Know

The Netflix docuseries Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story explores the real-life narrative of Lyle and his younger sibling Erik Menendez, who are both serving life sentences for the murder of their parents.

The Menendez brothers gained national attention in the 1990s during their highly publicized murder trial, which captivated many Americans. On July 2, 1996, they were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders. This documentary series delves into their story and the trial that led to their conviction.

Actor Nicholas Chavez takes on the role of Lyle in the cinematic reenactment of the case. He is also recognized for his performance as Spencer Cassadine in the long-running daytime soap opera General Hospital, for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series.

Who is Nicholas Chavez? Actor Profile Overview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EaEllq5FLk

MONSTERS: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | Official Trailer #1 | Netflix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EaEllq5FLk)

Nicholas Chavez, 25, was born on September 6, 1999, in Houston, Texas. He pursued his education at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. After two years, he opted to take a leave of absence and returned to Los Angeles to focus on his acting career.

He made his television debut on July 1, 2021, playing Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital. Chavez recently left the show in January 2024. Beyond soap operas, he also starred in the film Crushed as Jason in 2022.

In 2023, Chavez joined the cast for the second season of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series. The true crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is now available for streaming, with Chavez portraying Lyle Menendez.

Who were Erik and Lyle Menendez? The Story Behind the Docuseries

The case of Erik and Lyle Menendez began on August 20, 1989, when the brothers fatally shot their parents, José and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills mansion. After the murders, they concocted a false alibi claiming they were at a film festival at the time.

Following the shootings, Erik and Lyle quickly began spending their inheritance on high-end items and lavish vacations. As the police investigation unfolded, authorities became increasingly suspicious of the brothers and their extravagant lifestyle, attempting to extract a confession without success.

Erik eventually confessed to the murders during a therapy session with Dr. Jerome Oziel, and this revelation reached law enforcement through Oziel’s mistress, Judalon. Subsequently, both brothers were arrested and charged with murder, turning the trial into a sensational public spectacle in 1993.

Leslie Abramson served as the defense attorney for the Menendez brothers, asserting that they acted out of fear. The defense argued that they had suffered sexual abuse from their father during childhood, and claimed their mother, Kitty, was complicit by siding with their father. Two of the brothers’ cousins also supported this narrative.

Ultimately, Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. On July 2, 1996, they received life sentences without the possibility of parole.