Trigger Warning! This article contains talk of sexual assault against a minor.
Stephen Collins was the actor best known for playing Eric Camden the 7th Heaven dad, but the actor retired from acting in 2014 amid disturbing controversy. Airing for 11 seasons, the WB series followed Collins as Eric Camden, the father of seven children with his wife, Annie. Eric was a reverend at a Protestant church and had a sweet disposition that helped him gain a reputation as one of the most wholesome and caring TV dads. However, since the show ended in 2007, details about Collins' off-screen life have come to light, damaging the legacy of the 7th Heaven dad and effectively ending Collins' acting career.
Collins also starred in the long-running series Law & Order SVU in 2008 and had a role in the 1996 film The First Wives Club. Collins appeared in was Star Trek: The Motion Picture as Will Decker, a Starfleet officer assigned as captain of the USS Enterprise. On top of that, Collins has five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with one win. Ultimately, his last credited role was in Avengers Assemble, where he voiced Howard Stark as Collins has not worked since after some dark allegations came out against the once-beloved actor.
Stephen Collins' Sexual Abuse Explained
Collins itted To Several Disturbing Crimes
In 2012, Collins revealed to his wife Faye Grant in a therapy session that he had molested several underage girls. However, Collins didn't know that the session was being recorded. Collins itted to exposing himself to an 11-year-old girl and another girl around the age of 12 or 13. One of the girls was allegedly a relative of Grant's.
While Grant reported the assaults in 2012, the tapes didn't leak until 2014. Collins openly itted to what he said and even explained one of the stories on ABC News. Collins says he exposed himself to a young actress who was staying at his home after his wife had already gone to sleep. In 2015, 7th Heaven actress April Price claimed she was one of Collins' victims.
Stephen Collins' Career After 7th Heaven Explained
Collins Had Consistant (Though Underperforming) Work Following 7th Heaven Until 2014
After 7th Heaven ended in 2007, Collins continued to several other endeavors. However, none were as lasting as the family series that made him famous. Collins made an appearance in an season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2008 and played the recurring role of "The Captain" in Private Practice between 2009 and 2011. In 2010, he ed the primary cast of No Ordinary Family, a sitcom that ended after only one season. Collins’ only other primary role after this was in 2013's Revolution, which was also prematurely canceled.
In 2010, he ed the primary cast of No Ordinary Family, a sitcom that ended after only one season.
Still, Collins consistently landed work until his therapy tapes were leaked in 2014, with his last role being in 2014's animated television series Avengers Assemble. His other guest appearances prior to this but following 7th Heaven's conclusion were in series like The Office, Falling Skies, Scandal, The Fosters, and Devious Maids.
Where Stephen Collins Is Now
The 7th Heaven Actor Has Remained Out Of The Spotlight
Collins remains pretty private these days and has left Hollywood behind. The actor moved to Iowa after the tapes leaked and is currently married to a 7th Heaven fan from named Jenny Nagel. The two are working on healing Collins through meditation and therapy. While his career was demolished after he itted to his actions, Collins never suffered any legal consequences. It's not clear what else the 7th Heaven star is up to these days since he's completely out of the spotlight, but it looks like the 7th Heaven actor will not be returning to his acting career.
Source: ABC News
