# Cooper Koch

Cooper Joseph Koch (/ˈkɑːtʃ/; 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 previously starred in the slasher film They/Them and the body horror film Swallowed (both 2022).

## Early life and education

Cooper Joseph Koch was born on July 16, 1996, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. 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 and previously worked in the film industry in the visual effects department. His mother, Kathy Kaehler, is a celebrity personal trainer and author. His grandfather is film producer Hawk Koch, and his great-grandfather was film producer and director Howard W. Koch He has a twin brother, Payton Koch, who works as a film editor, and a second brother named Walker, who is a musician.
Koch previously lived in Hidden Hills, California and 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. He was also a member of an a cappella group and an orchestra, where he played the viola, as well as the men's volleyball team. In May 2018, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Pace University.

## Career

Koch made his on-screen debut with a background role in the 2007 film Fracture, which was produced by his grandfather, Hawk Koch. In 2010, he appeared in the music video for "Ordinary Girl" by Miley Cyrus (performing as her character, Hannah Montana). 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), and he filmed a pilot episode for Hulu's cancelled 2019 drama series Less Than Zero. 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. He also appeared in two episodes of the crime drama series Power Book II: Ghost.
In 2022, Koch starred in Carter Smith's body horror film Swallowed. He portrayed Benjamin, an aspiring gay pornographic actor who is forced to smuggle drugs by swallowing them. 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.
Koch first auditioned for the role of convicted murderer Erik Menendez in the NBC limited series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders and the Lifetime television film Menendez: Blood Brothers (both 2017). He later earned the part in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024), the second season of Netflix's crime anthology series Monster. 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. Critics highlighted his portrayal as one of the season's standout performances, and he also received praise from Lyle and Erik Menendez. It earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
In October 2024, Koch signed with United Talent Agency for representation. In November, he appeared in the short film Togetherness, as part of a campaign by fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. Aside from acting, he also modeled for various fashion brands, including Gap, Skechers, and Patagonia, and he has collaborated with Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, and Calvin Klein. He was formerly signed under Wilhelmina Models.

## Personal life

Koch is gay and has revealed that he struggled to get roles due to his sexuality and his "gay voice". As of March 2025, he is in a relationship with film director Stuart McClave.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Fracture | Kid | |
| 2017 | Mine | Cody | Short film |
| 2018 | Me Da La Lata | Andreas Lousche | Short film |
| 2018 | The Latent | Matthew | Short film |
| 2018 | Decadeless | Richard | Short film |
| 2019 | Daddy | Bellhop | Short film |
| 2021 | 4 Floors Up | The Stranger | Short film |
| 2022 | Swallowed | Benjamin | |
| 2022 | They/Them | Stu | |

### Television

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

### Music video

| Year | Song | Artist | Rol | Ref. |
| 2010 | "Ordinary Girl" | Hannah Montana | Boy | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2024 | GQ Men of the Year | International Actor of the Year | Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | Won |
| 2024 | The Daily Californian's Arts Awards | Best Actor in a Drama – Television | Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | Won |
| 2025 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | Nominated |
| 2025 | Queerty Awards | Best TV Performance | Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | Nominated |