Who is Cooper Koch? The 28-year-old actor is gaining fans for his portrayal of convicted killer Erik Menendez in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.’

"I understand how difficult it would be to have the worst part of your life be televised for millions of people to see," Koch said

This story contains mild spoilers to episode five, “The Hurt Man” in Monsters.] While Netflix true crime drama Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story arrived to mixed reviews and courted controversy over its portrayal of the of real-life convicted murderers,

The Lyle & Erik Menéndez Story would suggest, the newest chapter in Murphy’s anthology series centers on the titular Menéndez brothers (played by Nicholas Alexander and Koch respectively), who made headlines in 1996 when they were convicted of murder in the 1989 deaths of their parents José (Javier Bardem) and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez (Chloë Sevigny).

The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story', tells PEOPLE he "was so nervous" before meeting the brothers with Kim Kardashian

For each of the two days they shot The Hurt Man episode of Monsters, Cooper Koch performed four run throughs of the continuous shot (meaning he did it eight times in total). He described the experience as “exhausting.”

Erik Menéndez wants to watch Cooper Koch's portrayal of him — specifically in the critically acclaimed episode The Hurt Man — despite publicly denouncing Ryan Murphy's Monsters. Koch, 28, recalled speaking with Menéndez,

The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” kept up his research for the role even while sleeping. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.