Nicholas Alexander Chavez quickly gained attention for his role in the Netflix anthology series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Emmy Award-winning actors play Lyle Menendezone of two brothers convicted of the infamous murder of his parents in 1989. To prepare for the role, the 25-year-old Houston-born actor explored Lyle’s complex history and motivations, showing his dedication to bringing the character to life. With only a few important roles under his belt, including a standout performance General Hospitalfans are eager to learn more about Chavez and his rise in the industry.
Hollywood Life have rounded up five facts about Chavez, below!
Chavez played Lyle Menendez in it monster
Chavez played Lyle Menendez in it Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyinstallments of Ryan MurphyTrue crime anthology series on Netflix. Friday, September 16, at the red carpet premiere of Los Angeles monsterChavez said with Entertainment Tonight about how he was ready to take on the role of one of the Menendez brothers—someone who “actually exists in real life.”
“There is a lot of information and there is also a lot of information that is not there, then it is your job as an artist”
When talking to TheWrap in an interview published in September 2024, Chavez shared, “The first thing I did was to call my loved ones who were alive at the time, and I asked them about their perspective and how they felt.”
The actor, who was not aware of the Menendez case before joining the cast, added, “This show will present the facts from different perspectives. Ultimately, it will allow people to make their own decisions about this family and the events that happened, and I think that this is one of the more interesting aspects of the show. Chavez also watched Court TV footage and “several” documentaries about the brothers to prepare for the role.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story premieres on Netflix on September 19, 2024.
Chavez’s Breakthrough Role is active General Hospital
Chavez became famous for his role as Spencer Cassadine in the popular soap opera General Hospitalgained widespread recognition for his acting skills.
“It has changed everything about me,” Chavez said PEOPLE about the impact of that role on his career.” Before the show, I sold cars in Florida. I live all over the country now. I drive my dad’s old Jeep, and now, I’m sitting in a car that I paid for. This show gives me the opportunity to be my own man. It also gives me the gift of few people in life – the privilege of earning an income doing what I love to do every day. If I am not the luckiest person in the world, I must be very close.
Chavez Hosts the Daytime Emmy Awards
In 2022, Chavez won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Young Actor in a Drama Series, less than a year after joining General Hospital cast He earned another nomination in 2023 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series.
Chavez Has a Background in Theater
Before moving to television, Chavez was heavily involved in the theater, honing his skills through stage productions, which helped build the foundation of good acting. He also attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, where he received formal acting training, focusing on the technique and discipline required for stage performance.
Shortly after enrolling at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Chavez moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time.
Chavez is a Fitness Enthusiast
Outside of acting, Chavez is passionate about fitness and health, occasionally sharing his workout regimen—a mix of gym workouts and outdoor activities—with his fans on Instagram.
In 2021, Chavez discussed how to balance fitness with his increasingly busy schedule General Hospital. “I’m a morning person. I go to bed early and wake up early. I try to hit the gym in the early hours if possible,” he said, but admits, “There are only a few days when it’s not practical-life is like that.”
He also mentions being part of a Facebook forum where he trades notes and chats with other fitness enthusiasts. As for the training routine, Chavez explained, “I do a ‘body and upper arms’ day and also a ‘back and legs’ day. I try to throw in some yoga in there once a week just to stay flexible. When you exercise and lift weights, it can add some tension to the body, which can be counter-productive to what I’m doing on the plane. You want to have a pretty loose and free instrument to do that. That tension (from lifting weights) can be counter-productive.
