Stephen Collins, once beloved as the Reverend Eric Camden on the WB’s "7th Heaven," finds himself at the center of scrutiny following a new documentary that revisits his disturbing past. The Investigation Discovery docuseries, titled "Stephen Collins, America’s Dad," airs on Monday, March 24, 2025, and explores the disturbing revelations from 2014 when Collins was accused of exposing himself to young girls.
Serving as the moral anchor for many as a fatherly figure on television, Collins’ real-life actions conveyed a different tale. In 2014, it was revealed that Collins had exposed himself to three underage girls, with accusations spanning over two decades from 1973 to 1994. The incident is revisited in the first episode of a six-part series "Hollywood Demons," which also discusses issues faced by other celebrities.
The documentary features interviews with key figures such as Jeremy London and Kyle Searles, as well as April Price, who was one of Collins’ victims. Price describes chilling encounters with Collins. As a 13-year-old in 1983, she recalls how he exposed himself to her multiple times after helping her set up her gaming console. Reflecting on one shocking memory, Price states, “All I know is I was supremely shocked... and now I’m actually scared,” after a visit inside his apartment where he returned naked.
After years of silence on her experience, Price received an apology from Collins in 1997 on set, where he confessed, “I want you to know what I did was extremely wrong. I feel terrible about it. Please forgive me.” At the time, she believed it to be sincere, but now views it as mere damage control.
The scandal escalated dramatically with the leak of therapy session recordings in 2012, in which Collins discussed his abusive behaviors without realizing his then-wife, Faye Grant, was recording him. He revealed the extent of his actions, including detailing the abuse he committed against a girl starting when she was just 10 years old. The recording, which came to light through TMZ, shocked many and contrasted starkly with his on-screen persona.
Jeremy London, who portrayed Chandler Hampton on "7th Heaven," expressed shock upon discovering Collins’ confession. Initially, he described Collins as a great man but changed his tone to reflect a father’s perspective on the matter, stating, “Stephen Collins would be a dead man if that was my child.” The gravity of the situation weighs heavily on London, who comments, directly moved by the revelations.
Despite its severity, Collins has faced no criminal charges due to the statutes of limitations having elapsed for most of the accusations. The legal system has granted him a certain degree of immunity from prosecution, stirring frustration and disbelief among victims advocates. For April Price and the girls who crossed paths with Collins, their anguish is compounded knowing that the system has moved on.
The documentary also seeks perspectives from the cast of "7th Heaven," though responses have mostly been lacking as numerous individuals contacted chose not to participate. Garth Ancier, the Founding President of Programming at the WB Network, mentioned, “There was nothing and it just didn’t happen” when discussing whether allegations ever emerged from the show's cast.
Despite these claims of innocence and a protective atmosphere during filming, the reality is starkly different for the victims. Kyle Searles, who admired Collins as a mentor throughout his time on the show, noted his disillusionment upon learning of the revelations. Searles said, “I have like a knot in my stomach. My whole world changed when I had kids of my own.” What once represented mentorship now feels fraught with betrayal.
In September 2024, some of Collins’s former colleagues addressed their feelings about the scandal during the "Catching Up with the Camdens" podcast. They expressed support for victims and emphasized that all forms of abuse are inexcusable. Beverly Mitchell, who played Lucy Camden, stated, “We think it’s important that we say something about Stephen Collins.” David Gallagher added that victims must be shown compassion and support.
Collins has largely stayed out of the public eye following the scandal, with his last significant television role being a voiceover in the animated series "Avengers Assemble". He also participated in a single sighting in 2024, emphasizing his retreat from Hollywood. Collins is currently living with a woman significantly younger than himself, a former fan, with whom Dr. Drew Pinsky expressed concern about the age difference given his history.
As "Hollywood Demons" airs, it serves not only as a retrospective on one man’s failings but also a wider commentary on the failures of the systems designed to protect children in Hollywood. As the documentary seeks to shine a light on these dark chapters of celebrity culture, outcome reverberates far beyond Collins, advocating for the plight of countless survivors in similar situations.
