Who Is Cooper Koch's Boyfriend? All About Stuart McClave (and Find Out Why the “Monsters” Actor Wears a Ring!)

Cooper Koch may have been deemed one of the internet's boyfriends, but his heart belongs to someone special: his partner, Stuart McClave.

The Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story actor first revealed his relationship in October 2024. While initially keeping McClave’s identity private, Koch later shared more details, appearing arm-in-arm at events like the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, where he told Entertainment Tonight that McClave has "been the best partner I could have ever, ever asked for."

“It’s very easy to do that — be the best partner to Cooper," McClave added. "He’s so sweet!"

Related: See the Cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Side-by-Side with the Real People They Play

Though quiet at first about his romance, Koch has spoken candidly about navigating his sexuality in the public eye. In a June 2023 interview with Edge Media Network, he reflected on the "journey" of overcoming his initial fears of being openly gay as an actor.

"I was really afraid to be an actor and be gay just because I didn't think anyone would take me seriously or I wouldn't get cast, or I would be shunned or it just wouldn't work," Koch said.

He continued, "And I sort of learned through being in acting school that, you know, if I can't be myself, then I'm not gonna be able to play anyone else regardless of what they identify in terms of their sexuality or their gender or whatever."

So who is Cooper Koch's boyfriend? Here's everything to know about Stuart McClave and his relationship with the actor.

He grew up loving tennis

McClave was raised in Los Angeles and grew up "in love" with tennis as a kid, he told NewFilmmakers Los Angeles in June 2023.

"It was my first love," he said.

McClave added that he and his family were "obsessed" with the Williams family, including Richard and his daughters, Serena and Venus.

Their admiration ran so deep that they would drive 300 miles just to attend Serena and Venus' tournaments, inspiring McClave to later create a documentary on Richard.

He graduated from the University of Southern California

McClave is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he earned dual degrees in broadcast journalism and cinema-television production, per NewFilmmakers Los Angeles.

McClave told USC Annenberg News that he developed an interest in journalism and film at a young age when he saw the impact both fields could make on different people, especially when combined to engage larger audiences and highlight overlooked issues that affected humanity.

He is a writer and director

McClave harnessed his film and journalism education and turned to storytelling, he told Awards Radar in June 2022. He combined his passion for tennis with his education to create 2022's On The Line: The Richard Williams Story, a documentary about Williams.

McClave had been doing research on Williams in 2017 when he realized there hadn't been a feature documentary exploring his life (2021's King Richard hadn't been announced yet). After being connected to his family and son Chavoita LeSane — who would become a producer — he flew to Palm Beach in January 2020 to meet with the tennis icon, which he later described as a "life-changing experience."

"In this conversation, it kind of came out my love for tennis, my love for what he did to change the game," McClave told Awards Radar. "And like Mr. Williams, I think we both kind of have this encyclopedic knowledge of the sport that he really responded to. I think there was some form of energy there that allowed him to trust me to tell his story."

Prior to filmmaking, McClave was a development executive for NBCUniversal, Discovery Channel and feature film producer Mark Ciardi, per NewFilmmakers Los Angeles.

Koch first teased a relationship in October 2024

Koch first revealed he was in a relationship during an October 2024 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen after a fan asked him if he had a boyfriend.

"Good question," he responded. "I do have a boyfriend, so. Sorry!"

A few days later, Koch appeared on Sirius XM's Andy Cohen Live where host Andy Cohen asked about a wedding ring that had sparked fan speculation. Koch explained its significance, sharing a sweet moment between him and McClave from when he was preparing to attend the Emmy Awards with his brother, Payton.

“I was with my boyfriend and we went into my room and I was looking through my jewelry and I had this ring that was my grandfather’s," he said. "I was like, ‘Oh, I should just wear this ring.’ Then we just put it on my ring finger and it just became this little romantic and protective mechanism.”

Koch added, "I just wanted to like trip people out a little bit and see what they would say."

Although McClave doesn't wear a ring on his left finger, the actor emphasized that his partner was "very much committed to me as much as I am to him."

"We have talked about that, and we do need to get him a ring, but it's really more of just like a nice totem," Koch continued.

Not long after, Koch confirmed their relationship by revealing the name of his mystery man on a red carpet. When asked by GQ Australia at the Man of the Year Awards in December 2024 who his personal winner was, he responded, "It's my partner, Stuart McClave."

Koch and McClave made their red carpet debut at the 2025 Golden Globes

In the months after Koch announced his relationship, McClave began accompanying him to industry events, including the 2025 Golden Globe Awards in January, where Koch was nominated for his leading role in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Just weeks earlier, McClave joined Koch at a luncheon honoring first-time nominees.

But before McClave walked the Golden Globes red carpet with Koch, the couple attended the LACMA Art+Film Gala in November 2024, where the pair were pictured alongside Kim Kardashian.

He has been "so supportive" of Koch

While walking the 2025 Golden Globes red carpet, Koch gushed about his beau, sharing with Entertainment Tonight what it's been liking having McClave by his side through his rise to fame.

"It's intense, you know. It's overwhelming at times," he said. "He's just got me so grounded and pulls me down to the earth and holds me when its a lot."

"He's been so supportive and sweet," the actor added.

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