Nicholas Alexander Chavez has had a 鈥渧ery surreal鈥� few weeks promoting and premiering his first roles in prime time, in a pair of shows debuting within one week of each other.
Chavez, 25, plays Lyle Menendez in Netflix's 鈥淢onsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and Father Charlie, a true-crime obsessed priest in FX's 鈥淕rotesquerie." Both shows are co-created by Ryan Murphy.
鈥淲e were working on the tail end of 鈥楳onsters鈥� when Ryan called and said he had a really, really exciting new show called 鈥楪rotesquerie鈥� that he was working on," recalled Chavez. "He was very passionate about the project, and he had a great role in it for me."
鈥淕rotesquerie鈥� stars Niecy Nash-Betts as an alcoholic detective who has teamed up with a nun (Micaela Diamond) to investigate a serial killer case.
To get into character for 鈥淕rotesquerie,鈥� Chavez would listen to music. 鈥淒on't Do Anything Illegal鈥� by Charles Manson was on his Father Charlie playlist. For 鈥淢onsters,鈥� Chavez's prep was different because he was playing a real person and could watch old court videos.
In 1996, Lyle and his younger brother Erik were sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 killing of their parents, Jose and Kitty in their Beverly Hills home. The brothers alleged they were sexually abused by both parents for years and feared for their lives. Last week, and would decide whether a resentencing is warranted.
Chavez has already achieved success in daytime 鈥� as Spencer Cassadine, a grandson of Genie Francis' Laura (of Luke and Laura fame.) He played the role of a spoiled prince with daddy issues from 2021 until January 2024. Chavez won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding younger actor in a drama in 2022.
鈥淪oap fans are incredibly loyal, and I鈥檓 really, really thankful that they are interested in following my journey, even though I鈥檓 not on the show anymore," said Chavez.
Now that both 鈥淢onsters鈥� and 鈥淕rotesquerie鈥� are out, Chavez says he's 鈥渋tching鈥� to get back to work.
鈥淢y life feels whole and complete between the words action and cut. I live for those moments. I think that is the purpose of my entire existence," said Chavez. "Nothing brings me more satisfaction and joy as a human being than the craft of acting. I can鈥檛 wait to see what the future holds.鈥�
Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press
