Monsters star Cooper Koch began his acting journey in 2007 and has come a long way working in various movies and television series. Koch is openly gay, and he mainly stars in queer films.
Cooper Koch is an American actor known for his performances in indie films and television. He has gained recognition for his roles in the LGBTQ+ horror thriller film such as They/Them (2022).
Koch’s role in They/Them appears to have significantly impacted how he engages with his identity. Following that, he began talking openly about his sexuality, revealing that he identifies as gay.
Cooper also appeared in other notable projects, such as Swallowed, an intense body horror film directed by Carter Smith. With his rising career, Koch is considered one of the promising young actors in the indie scene.
Furthermore, he got headlines with his role as Erik Menedez in the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story series. Keep reading to learn more about Koch’s life.
Cooper Koch Grew Up Alongside His Twin Brother: All About His Parents And Family Details
Cooper Koch was born on July 16, 1996, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., to American parents Billy Koch (father) and Kathy Kaehler (mother). He grew up in The Woodland Hills with his twin brother Payton Koch and another brother, Walter, a musician.
Koch’s twin brother, Payton, is engaged in the film industry. Payton is an editor and has acted in a few movies, including Fracture (2007) and Till Death Do Us Part (2016). He has been an editor of various hit projects and won multiple awards.
Payton’s credits include Only Murders in the Building, American Horror Story, Just Beyond, and Ratched. Koch’s father, Billy, works in the visual effects department in films. In 1993, he even played the role of Juice Bartender in The Temp.
Billy’s work in the visual effects department can be seen in Rugrats in Paris, Little Nicky, Jerry Maguire, and Space Jam. On the other hand, Cooper’s mother, Kathy, has kept herself far from the public eye. She has appeared in a few Instagram posts of her son.
She also has an Instagram account registered as @kathykaehler, but she has kept the account confidential. Reportedly, Kathy and Billy tied the knot in 1994 and have remained together.
Moreover, Koch holds an American nationality, and he belongs to Russian Jewish/Polish Jewish descent.
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Cooper Koch Educational Background And Career Overview
Cooper Koch attended Pace School of Performing Arts in New York City and graduated with a BFA in Acting in May 2018. Koch then decided to work in the film industry. In 2007, he debuted on the big screen as a kid in Fracture, where he shared the screen with his twin brother.
He also worked on a music video, Towkio: Reflection. Koch has starred in short movies like The Body’s Witness, Mine, Me Da La Lata, The Latent, Daddy, 4 Floors Up, and Have You Seen My Glasses?
Meanwhile, Koch made his television debut in 2018 after starring as a boy on the train in the television series West 40s. He has also worked in television movies, such as A New York Christmas Wedding (2020) and Power Book II: Ghost (2020).
In 2022, Koch made headlines after starring in the American slasher film They/Them. He is currently in the media spotlight for his role as Erik Menéndez in the crime drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
His role in the new movie is like a turning point in his career, and while talking with Entertainment Tonight, Koch said, “I am pinching myself right now; I am so grateful to be here. I could cry.”
Cooper Koch Is An Openly Gay: Is He Dating Anyone?
Cooper Koch is openly gay, but it remains unclear when he publicly came out as gay.
Koch discussed being an openly gay actor in interviews, especially since the film They/Them featured a predominantly LGBTQ+ cast and addressed themes of identity and conversion therapy.
His role in the film, which centers on a group of LGBTQ+ teens at a conversion camp, gave him a platform to reflect on his experiences as a gay actor in Hollywood.
In interviews, Koch spoke about the importance of representation and how being part of a project like They/Them allowed him to bring authenticity to his character and the story.
While talking with the San Francisco Bay Times, Koch said,
“I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to be cast in it. To have actual trans, nonbinary, and queer people playing all of the roles is how it should be. We should tell these stories more to build awareness and represent our community.”
In June 2023, Koch gave an interview with EDGE Media Network, where he opened up about a challenging experience early in his acting career when an acting coach told him that he had a gay voice.
He said, “I have a thick skin, and at this point in my life, I’ve, you know, been through bullying when I was a kid; I’ve been fired from a pilot because of it.”
The gay actor is currently single. Also, there are no rumors of him having a romantic affair with anyone.
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