For years 7th Heaven was TV's go-to for wholesome family fun. The Camdens seemed like the perfect family but behind the scenes things were way more complicated especially concerning patriarch Eric Camden played by Stephen Collins. A new documentary series Hollywood Demons on ID Discovery is digging into the scandal that rocked the show and for the first time some of Collins' 7th Heaven co-stars are reacting on camera.
Jeremy London and Kyle Searles Hear Stephen Collins' Confession for the First Time in 'Hollywood Demons'
In a truly intense episode of Hollywood Demons actors Jeremy London and Kyle Searles both from 7th Heaven are shown listening to Stephen Collins' own confession of sexual misconduct. Yep you heard that right. Collins who played America's Dad admitted back in 2014 to past sexual misconduct with three underage girls. Talk about a bombshell.
Kyle Searles who joined 7th Heaven later on as Mac admitted he really looked up to Collins during filming. He even admired Collins for seeming so down-to-earth despite his fame and fortune. But watching Collins confess it all changed for Searles. He even teared up saying it was the first time he thought Collins was "full of stuff". Searles admitted he felt like he might have put Collins on too high of a pedestal before.
Jeremy London who played Reverend Chandler Hampton on the show for a couple of seasons said his first reaction to the allegations was disbelief. He felt like people were attacking someone he cared about. London mentioned his own past struggles and being labeled a "bad person" made it harder for him initially to believe Collins could do such things because he felt unfairly judged himself in the past. However when producers played Collins' confession for London his reaction was powerful. As a dad himself London stated bluntly "Stephen Collins would be a dead man if that was my child." Heavy stuff.
April Price Shares Her Story: Accuser Details Disturbing Encounters with Stephen Collins
The documentary also features a deeply unsettling account from April Price one of Stephen Collins' accusers. For the first time on camera Price detailed allegations of molestation against Collins dating back to 1983 when she was just 13 years old. She explained that she was visiting her aunt in Los Angeles and Collins was their neighbor. As a fan of his show Tales of the Gold Monkey she was initially starstruck by him and asked for an autograph which he kindly gave.
But things took a dark turn. Price alleges that Collins exposed himself to her on multiple occasions at her aunt's apartment complex. She recounted feeling shocked uncomfortable and even scared but also unsure how to react at the time. Price said she tried to downplay the incidents in her own mind even making excuses for his behavior because he was a famous actor and had initially been kind to her. It wasn't until years later when the scandal broke that Price fully processed the gravity of what happened.
Price actually crossed paths with Collins again years later when she was working in Hollywood. She claims he apologized to her at the time but in hindsight she feels it was insincere and more about damage control than genuine remorse. Price decided to speak out now as a mother hoping to empower others who might have experienced similar trauma and to show it is okay to have a voice.
7th Heaven Cast and Crew Reflect: Shock and Disbelief at "America's Dad's" Actions
It's not just London and Searles reacting in the documentary. WB Network president Garth Ancier who was involved with 7th Heaven also admitted he was in disbelief at the allegations. He said it just didn't match the Stephen Collins he knew. This highlights how shocking and unexpected the scandal was for those who knew Collins and worked on the show.
Kyle Searles admitted he initially avoided listening to Collins' confession trying to ignore the whole thing. However when he finally did watch the 20/20 interview where Collins admitted to misconduct with girls as young as 10 Searles said he was physically shaken and felt a knot in his stomach. The reality of the situation and the details of Collins' actions clearly hit hard for those connected to 7th Heaven.
Stephen Collins' Confession and the Fallout: Career Crash and Tarnished Legacy
Stephen Collins' career took a dramatic nosedive after his 2014 confession. He was fired from the movie Ted 2 and lost his recurring role on Scandal. Reruns of 7th Heaven were even pulled from some channels as the wholesome family image of the show was completely shattered by the scandal.
In his 2014 interview with Katie Couric Collins admitted to the misconduct but denied being a pedophile claiming he suffered from "exhibitionist urges" and "poor impulse control". He stated he had been in therapy for years. However his attempts to explain his actions did little to mitigate the public outrage and the damage to his reputation and the legacy of 7th Heaven.
7th Heaven Cast: Where Are They Now? (Besides Processing Shocking Revelations)
While the documentary is bringing up painful truths about the past the rest of the 7th Heaven cast has moved on with their careers and lives since the show ended in 2007. Here is a quick look at what some of the Camden kids have been up to:
- Jessica Biel (Mary Camden): Biel's career took off after 7th Heaven. She has starred in major movies like The Illusionist Total Recall and Hitchcock. She is married to Justin Timberlake and has two children.
- Beverley Mitchell (Lucy Camden): Mitchell has continued to act in TV movies and series including Hollywood Darlings and Candy Cane Christmas. She also hosts the Catching Up With The Camdens podcast with former co-stars. She is married and has three children.
- Barry Watson (Matt Camden): Watson has worked steadily in television with roles in shows like Gossip Girl Hart of Dixie and Naomi. He has children from previous relationships.
- David Gallagher (Simon Camden): Gallagher has appeared in series like The Vampire Diaries and Chicago Med. He has also done voice acting work.
- Mackenzie Rosman (Ruthie Camden): Rosman has focused more on personal pursuits after 7th Heaven stepping away from acting for a period. She has participated in the Catching Up With The Camdens podcast as well.
- Catherine Hicks (Annie Camden): Hicks continued to act in film and television after 7th Heaven including roles in My Name Is Earl and The Dog Who Saved Christmas.
7th Heaven's Legacy Revisited: Wholesomeness Tarnished but Cast Moves Forward
The Stephen Collins scandal has undoubtedly cast a dark shadow over the legacy of 7th Heaven. What was once seen as a wholesome family show is now forever linked to these disturbing allegations and admissions. The Hollywood Demons documentary is forcing a difficult but necessary re-examination of this period of television history and the real-life actions of one of its central figures.
While the revelations are painful the reactions of former cast members like Jeremy London and Kyle Searles along with accuser April Price speaking out are important steps in confronting the truth and hopefully offering some measure of closure and support to victims. The show's stars are navigating this difficult chapter while continuing with their own lives and careers proving that even in the face of Hollywood scandals life and work go on.