Behind the scenes: Nicholas Alexander Chavez on playing Lyle Menendez

A unique audition experience

Nicholas Alexander Chavez recently shared his unique experience auditioning for the role of Lyle Menendez in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” Unlike typical callbacks, Chavez found himself in an intimate setting with only one other actor, Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez.

“Usually, when you go to a callback, there are four or five other people there to play the part. But it was just Cooper and myself,” Chavez recalls. “Ryan Murphy strolled through, and we had no idea he would be there, so it completely took us by surprise. They made sure we felt comfortable. We went up there, did the scenes, and it felt electric right off the bat with Cooper. Ryan called us two days later to let us know that he wasn’t going to make the show if he couldn’t make it with us.”

Immersing in the Menendez brothers’ world

Chavez’s preparation for the Netflix series was thorough. He delved into every available resource about the Menendez brothers and their trials. The Menendez brothers are serving life sentences without parole for the first-degree murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in 1989.

Koch, who plays Erik, spoke to Erik Menendez on the phone the night before the series premiered on Netflix. He later met both Erik and Lyle in prison, accompanied by Kim Kardashian. Chavez, however, has no plans to meet the brothers.

“As an artist, you can’t help but have a morbid curiosity about the people you play. After living in this character and circumstances for six months, there is, on some level, a desire,” Chavez explains. “But ultimately, I’ve recognized that it’s important to have the grace to release characters after they’re done. That’s a big part of the job, and I’m holding true to that.”

The question of a retrial

When asked if he believes the Menendez brothers deserve a retrial, Chavez remains neutral. “I know there’s been a lot of discussion about this. I’m really interested to see what happens in the future. I think it’s up to the United States justice system to decide that.”

Transitioning to “Grotesquerie”

While still filming “Monsters,” Murphy cast Chavez in another series, FX’s “Grotesquerie.” Chavez recalls the hectic schedule: “During the last few weeks of filming ‘Menendez,’ I was shooting ‘Grotesquerie’ as well. The night we wrapped ‘Menendez,’ I got in a car, went to a hotel near where we were filming ‘Grotesquerie,’ and jumped right in the next day. I filmed for five days straight after that. It’s been very cool to experience Ryan’s creative vision in two different worlds because they’re very different.”

Travis Kelce’s acting debut

“Grotesquerie” also marks the acting debut of Travis Kelce. Chavez speaks highly of his co-star: “He’s so charming, charismatic, and down to earth. You can definitely tell he plays professional football for a living because he’s a team player. He came in super collaborative and performed with confidence. I was honestly blown away that it was his first time acting.”

A Swiftie at heart

When asked if he considers himself a Swiftie, Chavez smiles and admits, “You know, her music is infectious. Whenever it comes on, I find myself dancing along to it. She has so much fun and is such a performer.” After a moment of consideration, he adds, “OK, fine, I’m a Swiftie.”

Did you enjoy this article? Share it on your social channels and let us know your thoughts! Don’t miss out on the latest updates! Follow us on social media to stay informed about the newest releases.