Reclusive 7th Heaven actor Stephen Collins took a rare public outing last year — the first one in half a decade.
Collins, 77, could be seen pumping gas and returning empty glass bottles at a local grocery store on April 29, 2024, marking the first public appearance for the elusive former actor in half a decade.
Collins rose to fame as Reverend Eric Camden on 7th Heaven, which ran from 1996 to 2007. He became a household name while starring on the series alongside Jessica Biel, Barry Watson, Beverley Mitchell, David Gallagher, Mackenzie Rosman and Catherine Hicks.
Seven years later, Collins made headlines when TMZ published an audio recording of a previous marriage counseling session with Collins and his then-wife of nearly 30 years, Faye Grant, in which Collins admitted to sexually abusing three underage girls between 1973 and 1994.
Collins and Grant finalized their divorce in 2015.
“I’m a flawed person,” Collins told Katie Couric in an interview conducted shortly after the news broke. “In the church, it’s actually one of the things I love about the church … It’s really one of the main things about the Christian faith. Christ said in so many ways, ‘Bring me that … which about you is broken, bring it,’ and most people are broken in some way.”
He continued of people’s so-called brokenness, “Most people get to, or have to, or choose to hide it. This came out. I didn’t choose [for] this to come out. I didn’t want to have to deal with these things publicly. … I had dealt with them very, very strongly, and committedly, in my private life, but I think I’m a human being with flaws and I’ve done everything I can to address it.”
Collins subsequently left Hollywood and acting behind.
Investigation Discovery’s new, six-part documentary Hollywood Demons, which aired on Monday, March 24, revisits Collins’ sexual abuse scandal. According to filmmakers, “more than 100 contacts” of Collins’ were contacted regarding the docuseries and “nearly everyone declined to participate or did not respond.” Collins also declined to participate.
“Stephen Collins now lives with a woman who is 40 years younger than him. She was a super fan,” Dr. Drew Pinsky claimed in the special. “The age difference – given what we know about his history – certainly raises an eyebrow. Let’s hope he can commit to this woman and not perpetrate on others.”
Pinsky speculated Collins was living with Jenny Nagel. After Collins’ acting career ended in disgrace, he was spotted on multiple occasions with Nagel in Fairfield, Iowa, where they reportedly and currently live.
According to the Daily Mail, the pair married in 2019 and have since been spotted attending twice-daily transcendental meditation sessions. The outlet also reported that Nagel posted about Collins’ hit show years before they connected.
In 2012, an investigation was launched into the claims against Collins. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department later released a statement confirming they could not “substantiate the allegation” against Collins and no charges were brought against him.
If you or anyone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more.
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