Image credit: Steven Kim
The Menendez brothers have been a hot topic online recently, not only because of the release of Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story on Netflix, but also because of the renewed interest in their case and life. Furthermore, many viewers were surprised to learn through the show that the now 56-year-old brother was bald. Lyle and Erik were sentenced to life without parole for the murder of their parents, Jose Menendez and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, in their home in Beverly Hills, California, in 1989. They were 21 and 18 years old at the time. During their trial, the brothers claimed that they had been abused by their parents throughout their childhood.
The crime drama series shocked viewers when its actor, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who plays Lyle, had his hair ripped out, leading to a recent discussion about whether Lyle was bald. Read on to find out.
Was Lyle Menendez bald?
According to ScreenRant, Lyle began losing his hair when he was 16. His hair reportedly began thinning just before he enrolled at Princeton University, so his father decided to buy him a wig.
As a result, in season 2 of Monsters, actress Chloe Sevingy, who played Lyle’s mother Kitty Menendez, was shown pulling Lyle’s hair, leaving him half bald.
Why did Lyle Menendez suffer from alopecia?
The cause of his hair loss has never been confirmed, but many believe it was due to years of abuse. This became a focal point of their lawsuit, as Lyle was seen naked in front of his brother Eric while still wearing the headpiece. According to a 1994 Vanity Fair article, “The defense further argued that seeing his brother bald and suddenly realizing his brother’s vulnerability and shame prompted Eric to confess his deepest secrets to Lyle.” The paper continued, “Their father had sexually abused him for 12 years.”
Where are Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez now?
The brothers were initially incarcerated in separate facilities until 2018. Lyle and Eric are incarcerated together at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California.
