Wikipedia

Cooper Koch

Cooper Joseph Koch (born July 16, 1996) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Erik Menendez in the biographical crime drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024), which earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. He has also starred in the slasher film They/Them and the body horror film Swallowed (both 2022).

Cooper Koch
Born (1996-07-16) July 16, 1996 (age 28)
Los Angeles, California
Alma materPace University (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present
PartnerStuart McClave
MotherKathy Kaehler
Relatives

Early life and education

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Cooper Joseph Koch was born on July 16, 1996, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.[1] His father, Billy Koch, is from a Jewish Eastern European background; he is the founder and managing partner of the horse racing club Little Red Feather Racing and previously worked in the film industry in the visual effects department.[2][3] His mother, Kathy Kaehler, is a celebrity personal trainer and author.[4][5][6] His grandfather is film producer Hawk Koch, and his great-grandfather was film producer and director Howard W. Koch[7][8][9] He has a twin brother, Payton Koch, who works as a film editor, and a second brother named Walker, who is a musician.[10][7]

Koch attended Calabasas High School, where he participated in theater and worked in various stage adaptations such as West Side Story and A Midsummer Night's Dream.[11][3] In May 2018, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Pace University.[7][12]

Career

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Koch made his on-screen debut with a minor role in the 2007 film Fracture, which was produced by his grandfather, Hawk Koch.[7] In 2010, he appeared in the music video for "Ordinary Girl" by Miley Cyrus (performing as her character, Hannah Montana).[13] From 2017 to 2021, Koch primarily appeared in short films. He had a guest role in the episode "Forty Candles" of the comedy series West 40s (2018),[14] and he filmed a pilot episode for Hulu's cancelled 2019 drama series Less Than Zero.[15] He later appeared in A New York Christmas Wedding (2020), playing Azrael Gabison, a guardian angel who shows a woman an alternate version of her life.[16] He also appeared in two episodes of the crime drama series Power Book II: Ghost.[17]

In 2022, Koch starred in Carter Smith's body horror film Swallowed.[18] He portrayed Benjamin, an aspiring gay pornographic actor who is forced to smuggle drugs by swallowing them.[19] That same year, he appeared in the Blumhouse Productions slasher film They/Them, playing Stu, a closeted gay jock who attends an LGBTQ conversion therapy camp.[20]

Koch earned recognition for his portrayal of convicted murderer Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024), the second season of Netflix's crime anthology series Monster.[21][22] His performance received critical acclaim, particularly in the fifth episode, "The Hurt Man", which is a 30-minute long take of Erik detailing the sexual abuse he suffered from his father.[23] Critics highlighted his portrayal as one of the season's standout performances,[24][25] and he also received praise from Erik Menendez.[1] It earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television.[26] Koch later revealed that he first auditioned for the role of Menendez in the NBC limited series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders and the Lifetime television film Menendez: Blood Brothers (both 2017).[27]

In October 2024, Koch signed with United Talent Agency for representation.[28] In November, he appeared in the short film "Togetherness", as part of a campaign by fashion house Yves Saint Laurent.[29]

Aside from acting, he also modeled for various fashion brands, including Gap, Skechers, and Patagonia.[30][31] He was formerly signed under Wilhelmina Models.[32]

Personal life

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Koch is gay[33][34] and has revealed that he struggled to get roles due to his sexuality and his "gay voice".[35][36] He is currently in a relationship with film director Stuart McClave.[37][38]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 Fracture Kid [7]
2017 Mine Cody Short film [39]
2018 Me Da La Lata Andreas Lousche [40]
The Latent Matthew [41]
Decadeless Richard [42]
2019 Daddy Bellhop [43]
2021 4 Floors Up The Stranger [44]
2022 Swallowed Benjamin [18]
They/Them Stu [45]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 West 40s Boy on train Episode: "Forty Candles" [14]
2019 Less Than Zero Julian TV Movie [17]
2020 A New York Christmas Wedding Azrael Gabison [7]
Power Book II: Ghost Chase 2 episodes [17]
2024 Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Erik Menendez Lead role [21]

Music video

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Year Song Artist Rol Ref.
2010 "Ordinary Girl" Hannah Montana Boy [13]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2024 GQ Men of the Year Awards International Actor of the Year Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Won [46]
2025 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television Pending [26]

References

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  1. ^ a b Murphy, Chris (October 10, 2024). "Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch Don't Think the Menendez Brothers Are 'Monsters'". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Team Little Red Feather - Little Red Feather Racing ClubLittle Red Feather". Little Red Feather. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Nelson, Scott. "Hip Daddy Spotlight #5: Horse Racing Owner Billy Koch". Hip Daddy. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "Kathy Kaehler". HarperCollins. Archived from the original on October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "Kathy Kaehler | Actress, Additional Crew". IMDb. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "Kathy Kaehler Speaks Up for Orcas at SeaWorld". PETA. December 27, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f LeGardye, Quinci (September 20, 2024). "Who is Cooper Koch? What to Know About the Actor Who Plays Erik in 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story'". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (July 31, 2012). "Academy Elects Hawk Koch as Its New President". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Hammond, Pete (November 14, 2019). "Hawk Koch On His New Memoir 'Magic Time': Stories From A Life In The Movie Business And Escaping The Shadow Of His Father's Hollywood Legacy". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  10. ^ babrams (September 13, 2024). "Picking Apart the Pickwick Triplets With 'Only Murders in the Building' Emmy-Nom'd Editors Shelly Westerman and Payton Koch". Motion Picture Association. Archived from the original on October 17, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Betancourt, Emiliana; Malkin, Marc (September 26, 2024). "Erik Menendez Actor Cooper Koch Hugged the Real Menendez Bros. During Prison Visit With Kim Kardashian, Says They Deserve a Retrial and Are 'Upstanding Individuals'". Variety. Archived from the original on October 17, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Stivale, Shelby (September 23, 2024). "Who Plays Erik Menendez in Netflix's 'Monsters'? Meet Cooper Koch". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  13. ^ a b DisneyMusicVEVO (July 8, 2010). Hannah Montana - Ordinary Girl. Retrieved October 15, 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ a b Patta, Gig (February 24, 2023). "Swallowed | Cooper Koch and Jose Colon on Nudity and Swallowing". LRMonline. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2019). "Pilots 'Less Than Zero' & 'Search And Destroy' Not Going Forward At Hulu". Deadline. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Bojalad, Alec (October 7, 2020). "Netflix Announces 2020 Winter Holiday Lineup". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Rice, Lynette (September 27, 2024). "'Monsters' Star Cooper Koch Breaks Down One-Take Scene As Erik Menéndez When He Reveals History Of Abuse: "Super Nerve-Wracking"". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Adams, Jason (February 14, 2023). "Fantasia Review: Carter Smith's 'Swallowed' Digs Deep Into The Dark Nooks Of Queer-Horror". Pajiba. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Medina, Joel (September 28, 2024). "Fans of Cooper Koch in 'Monsters' Need to Check Out His Shocking Body Horror Movie". Collider. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Vlessing, Etan (July 20, 2022). "Kevin Bacon Runs a Killer Gay Conversion Camp in New Trailer for Blumhouse Slasher Pic 'They/Them'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Hailu, Selome (June 30, 2023). "Ryan Murphy's 'Monster' Season 2 Casts Cooper Koch, Nicholas Alexander Chavez as the Menéndez Brothers". Variety. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  22. ^ Malkin, William Earl,J Kim Murphy,Marc (September 28, 2024). "'Monsters' Stars Break Down Erik Menendez's 'Powerful,' 33-Minute Single Take in Episode 5: 'You Couldn't Look Away'". Variety. Retrieved October 28, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Malkin, Marc; Earl, William; Murphy, J Kim (September 28, 2024). "'Monsters' Stars Break Down Erik Menendez's 'Powerful,' 33-Minute Single Take in Episode 5: 'You Couldn't Look Away'". Variety. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  24. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (September 20, 2024). "'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' Review: Despite a Terrifying Javier Bardem, Ryan Murphy's Netflix True-Crime Saga Falls Flat". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  25. ^ Kang, Inkoo (October 8, 2024). "Ryan Murphy's Latest Era of Cynical Hits". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "2025 Golden Globes nominations revealed: See the full list of nominees". Entertainment Weekly. December 9, 2024. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  27. ^ Millar, Jake (December 9, 2024). ""It was one of the greatest acting experiences I've ever had": Cooper Koch is writing his next chapter". GQ Australia. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  28. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 21, 2024). "Monsters Star Cooper Koch Signs with UTA". Deadline Hollywood. United States. Archived from the original on October 21, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  29. ^ "As Time Goes By | Saint Laurent | YSL". www.ysl.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  30. ^ Turner, Kyle (October 18, 2024). "A Big Night Out With Cooper Koch, the Breakout Heartthrob of 'Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story'". GQ. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  31. ^ Kinane, Ruth (September 26, 2024). "Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch Explode in Monsters". Tudum by Netflix. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  32. ^ admin (November 30, 2017). "Cooper Koch at Wilhelmina by Joseph Lally for Sleepless Nights 2 Book". Yearbook Fanzine. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  33. ^ "Cooper Koch Talks About the New Queer Thriller They/Them". San Francisco Bay Times. August 11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  34. ^ "Out Actor Cooper Koch Signed for Season 2 of Ryan Murphy's 'Monster' | EDGE United States". EDGE Media Network. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  35. ^ "Cooper Koch Struggled to Get Roles for Years. Then Came 'Monsters'". Pace University New York. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  36. ^ "'Monsters' star Cooper Koch recalls being told his 'gay voice' would hinder his career". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  37. ^ "The best street style we spotted outside GQ MOTY 2024". GQ Australia. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  38. ^ Murphy, Chris (December 9, 2024). "Monsters' Cooper Koch Has Had a "Crazy Day" After Getting Nominated for a Golden Globe". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  39. ^ Ortiz, Erica (August 1, 2017), Mine (Short, Drama), Liv Kirby, Cooper Koch, Elysium Bandini Studios, retrieved October 28, 2024
  40. ^ Wong, Lipmann (May 24, 2018), Me Da La Lata (Short, Comedy), Cooper Koch, Kaycee Murto, Michael Polanco, retrieved October 28, 2024
  41. ^ Haffenreffer, Peter, The Latent (Short, Drama), Cooper Koch, Godfrey J. Rayner, Bruce Ross, retrieved October 28, 2024
  42. ^ Shea, Aubrey, Decadeless (Short, Comedy, Drama), Austin Abrams, Cooper Koch, Christina Scherer, retrieved October 28, 2024
  43. ^ Coppola, Christian (October 1, 2020), Daddy (Short, Drama), Ron Rifkin, Dylan Sprouse, Catherine Wolf, retrieved October 28, 2024
  44. ^ Bayne, Thomas (December 12, 2021), 4 Floors Up (Short, Horror), Alec Kirazian, Cooper Koch, Madelyn Moon, retrieved October 28, 2024
  45. ^ Guttmann, Graeme (August 8, 2022). "Cooper Koch, Darwin Del Fabro, Monique Kim & Anna Lore Interview: They/Them". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  46. ^ Lennox, Will (December 4, 2024). "Cooper Koch is your 2024 International Actor of the Year". GQ Australia. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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