After the release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix, a burning question arose among viewers: was Lyle Menendez genuinely bald, and what prompted him to wear a toupee in the series? The show, dramatizing the infamous Menendez brothers’ case, has brought renewed attention to the details of their lives, including Lyle’s appearance.
In the gripping first episode, viewers witness a shocking scene where Lyle Menendez (portrayed by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) confronts his mother, Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez (played by Chloë Sevigny). During their intense argument, Kitty rips off what appears to be Lyle’s toupee, revealing a bald patch underneath. This scene left many wondering if this detail was a dramatic exaggeration for television or rooted in reality.
Lyle Menendez Toupee Scene in Netflix's 'Monsters' Series
The Reality of Lyle Menendez’s Baldness
The dramatic toupee scene in Monsters is not a fabrication for entertainment purposes. It is actually based on documented accounts from Robert Rand’s 2018 book, The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Untold Story of the Menendez Family and the Killings. This book served as a primary source for the Netflix series, aiming to depict the events surrounding the Menendez family as accurately as possible.
Robert Rand vividly describes the altercation in his book, stating, “It was his toupee, and it came off like a savage scalping.” This incident occurred merely five days before the tragic murders of José and Kitty Menendez in August 1989. At the time, Lyle was only 20 years old, making his hair loss and toupee even more noteworthy.
According to Rand’s detailed account, Lyle had taken steps to prepare for wearing the hairpiece. He shaved the crown of his head to ensure a secure fit for the toupee, which was attached using a strong adhesive. Removing the toupee was not a simple task; it required a special solvent to carefully detach it. Kitty’s forceful removal of the toupee during their argument caused Lyle significant pain, as highlighted in Rand’s book.
The Reason Behind Lyle Menendez’s Toupee
The decision for Lyle to wear a toupee was not driven by personal vanity but rather by his father, José Menendez, and his aspirations for Lyle’s future. Approximately two years before the toupee incident, José suggested that Lyle should consider a career in politics. In José’s view, a successful political career required a specific image, including a “thick head of hair.”
Lyle was already experiencing hair thinning at the top of his head. His father, concerned about appearances and image, insisted that Lyle obtain a full hairpiece before starting his studies at Princeton University. This reveals a layer of pressure and control exerted by José over Lyle’s life and image, even down to his hairstyle.
The Netflix series Monsters further explores this aspect of Lyle’s life in a scene where Erik Menendez (played by Cooper Koch) confronts Lyle about the toupee. Lyle admits to getting the hairpiece about three or four years prior, confessing he kept it a secret because he “didn’t want you to know, that’s the f–king point, Erik! Nobody’s supposed to know.” He then reveals that their father was the driving force behind his wearing the toupee, which opens up a broader conversation between the brothers about the abuse they endured from their parents.
Reactions to “Monsters” and Portrayal Accuracy
While Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story aims for accuracy by drawing from sources like Robert Rand’s book, it has faced criticism regarding its portrayal of the Menendez brothers. Tammi Menendez, Erik’s wife, issued a statement expressing her disappointment with the series. She felt that the show perpetuated “lies and ruinous character portrayals” of Lyle, creating a caricature that was not based on truth.
Despite these criticisms, the detail regarding Lyle Menendez’s baldness and toupee is one aspect of the series firmly rooted in documented reality. It highlights not only a physical detail about Lyle but also provides insights into the pressures and dynamics within the Menendez family. The toupee becomes a symbol of control and image management, imposed upon Lyle by his father, adding another layer to the complex and tragic story of the Menendez brothers.
