Cooper Koch Earns First Emmy Nomination for ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’

Cooper Koch received his first Emmy nomination for his lead role as Erik Menendez in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix limited series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. While Koch celebrates this milestone, he expressed disappointment that his co-stars Ari Graynor (Erik’s defense attorney Leslie Abramson) and Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Lyle Menendez) were overlooked by the Emmy voters.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Koch said, “I’m devastated that she didn’t get it… Same thing with Nicholas. I think both of them really deserved to be on there.” Despite the snubs, the series did secure nominations for Chloë Sevigny (best supporting actress) and Javier Bardem (best supporting actor).

Koch praised his castmates, emphasizing how crucial their performances were to his own: “I owe all of my work and the scenes and everything that came out to them.”

Amidst the Emmy buzz, Koch also highlighted the ongoing legal developments of the Menendez brothers, who were resentenced in May and are now eligible for parole hearings in August. “I’m just hoping that I can talk more about and advocate for them,” he shared.

Looking forward to the Emmy campaign, Koch expressed excitement about meeting fellow first-time nominees like Aimee Lou Wood from The White Lotus, and spoke highly of shows like Severance and Only Murders in the Building, praising actors Adam Scott and Britt Lower.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story garnered 11 total Emmy nominations, including Best Limited or Anthology Series and several technical and creative category nods.

The 77th Emmy Awards will be hosted by Nate Bargatze and will air live on CBS on Sunday, September 14, 2025.