AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Nicholas Alexander Chavez feels best between 'action' and 'cut'

It's not an exaggeration to say Nicholas Alexander Chavez had a very good year.

Now a member of Ryan Murphy's unofficial acting troupe, he starred in two of the creator's new series. First came the Golden Globe-nominated “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” for Netflix. Chavez played Lyle, the elder of two brothers serving a lifetime prison sentence for killing their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1989.

Chavez recognizes some parts of the series are “really, really difficult to digest” but points out that “Monsters” shows multiple sides to the story. The brothers have said they killed their parents out of self-defense, following sexual abuse by their father.

“To my knowledge, it’s the first TV show about the Menendez brothers that’s told in that format,” said Chavez, who prepared by watching old court footage. (The drama — and a new documentary — reignited public interest in the case, and a judge is weighing Los Angeles County prosecutors' request to resentence the brothers.)

It was toward the end of filming “Monsters” that Murphy invited Chavez to join Niecy Nash in “Grotesquerie,” a double act that earned him a spot as one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024.

“I was just so excited that he thought of me,” said Chavez of the opportunity. “I had studied Season 1 of ‘Monsters.’” The opportunity to act with Nash, says Chavez, “was really kind of a wonderful way for me to close the loop.” To get into character as Father Charlie, Chavez would listen to music: “Don’t Do Anything Illegal” by Charles Manson — yes, that one — was on his playlist.

Even before the Murphyverse, the 25-year-old had a loyal following from his work on ABC’s “General Hospital,” TV’s longest-running soap. Chavez was selling cars during the pandemic when he auditioned for and got a part on the daytime show. He played Spencer Cassadine, a grandson of legacy character Laura of the Luke and Laura days. A year later, he won the 2022 Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding younger performer in a drama series.

Of the training that actors get from soap operas, Chavez said the series helped him: “It’s no joke when they talk about the memorization. I think that my heaviest day on set was something like 85 pages.”

A career in acting wasn't on Chavez's radar until he played Atticus Finch in his high school production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“I just really, really enjoyed myself,” recalled Chavez. “I felt really free and present and immersed in the moment. It felt like I was doing the thing that I was put on earth to do.”

He remembers being told afterward by teachers that he should pursue acting as a career. Their encouragement stuck with him: “Not many kids in Denver got told this. It’s not really a part of the infrastructure the way that it is in LA or maybe in New York.”

Cooper Koch, who played Erik Menendez in “Monsters,” credits Chavez’s layered performance in the series. He recalls a scene when his character confesses to the crimes in a therapy session. Lyle bursts through the door to stop him.

“He’s sort of pleading with the doctor like, ‘We’re going to be OK, right? You can’t tell anyone,’” Koch said. “After we cut, me and Nick and our director of photography, Jason McCormick, sort of huddled up outside and we just started crying. It was so beautiful. And I really, really saw his (Lyle’s) humanity and the lion mask kind of come off and he became this wounded child. It was so, so beautiful to witness.”

Next, Chavez has a role in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” reboot. He also says he would like to get cast in a comedy. More than anything, he just wants to be on set working.

“My life feels whole and complete between the words ‘action’ and ‘cut.’ I live for those moments,” he said. “I think that is the purpose of my entire existence. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

For more on AP’s 2024 class of Breakthrough Entertainers, visit https://apnews.com/hub/ap-breakthrough-entertainers

This combination of photos shows AP's 2024 breakthrough entertainers of the year. Fred Hechinger, from top left, Maleah Joi Moon, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Adria Arjona, Myha'la, Aaron Pierre, and Glorilla. (AP Photo)

This combination of photos shows AP's 2024 breakthrough entertainers of the year. Fred Hechinger, from top left, Maleah Joi Moon, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Adria Arjona, Myha'la, Aaron Pierre, and Glorilla. (AP Photo)

Nicholas Alexander Chavez poses for a portrait on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. Chavez has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024. (Photo by Matt Licari/Invision/AP)

Nicholas Alexander Chavez poses for a portrait on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. Chavez has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024. (Photo by Matt Licari/Invision/AP)

Nicholas Alexander Chavez poses for a portrait on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. Chavez has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024. (Photo by Matt Licari/Invision/AP)

Nicholas Alexander Chavez poses for a portrait on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. Chavez has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024. (Photo by Matt Licari/Invision/AP)

Nicholas Alexander Chavez poses for a portrait on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. Chavez has been named one of The Associated Press' Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024. (Photo by Matt Licari/Invision/AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Naz Reid scored a season-high 33 points off the bench, Anthony Edwards added 23, and the Minnesota Timberwolves routed the Bulls 136-101 on Monday night after Chicago lost top scorers Coby White and Josh Giddey to injuries.

Julius Randle had 17 points as Minnesota pulled away in the third quarter in the opener of a four-game trip. Donte DiVincenzo and Bones Hyland scored 12 each as Minnesota shot 53.7% after a cold start.

Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 23 points, but the depleted Bulls couldn't keep pace and lost a second straight following a five-game winning streak that had lifted them back to .500. Chicago shot just 40.9%, and committed 16 turnovers compared to three by Minnesota.

White, Chicago’s leading scorer, exited with a right calf strain in the first quarter.

Giddey, Chicago’s second-leading scorer, walked off the court gingerly with an apparent left hamstring injury in the first minute of the second half after scoring 11 points.

White, who entered averaging 20.5 points, missed the first 11 games this season with similar calf injury. Giddey entered averaging 19.5 points, 9.2 assists and 9.1 rebounds. He is second in the NBA with seven triple-doubles.

Before the game, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said Zach Collins will probably miss several games with a sprained right big toe.

Minnesota’s Mike Conley played in his 1,200th game.

The Timberwolves took charge in the third quarter after the Bulls tied it at 55 in the opening minute of the period. Minnesota outscored Chicago 40-28 in the frame and took a 95-78 lead into the fourth.

The Timberwolves led 55-50 at the half after trailing by as much as nine midway through the second quarter. Edwards led the comeback, scoring his first 11 points consecutively on three 3’s and a pair of free throws.

Timberwolves: At Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Bulls: Host New Orleans on Wednesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert (27) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Bulls' Nikola Vucevic (9) battles Minnesota Timberwolves' Naz Reid (11) for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Minnesota Timberwolves' Bones Hyland (8) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddey (3) goes up to shoot against Minnesota Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Minnesota Timberwolves' Naz Reid celebrates during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)