Stephen Collins

Stephen Weaver Collins (born October 1, 1947) is an American former actor and writer. He is known for playing Eric Camden on the long-running television series 7th Heaven from 1996 to 2007. Since then, Collins has played the roles of Dayton King on the ABC TV series No Ordinary Family and Gene Porter in the television series Revolution, father of Elizabeth Mitchell's character, Rachel Matheson. Before 7th Heaven, Collins was known for his role as Commander Willard Decker in the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture. His career largely ended in 2014 when he confessed to sexual misconduct with multiple minors.[1][2]

Stephen Collins
Collins in 2014
Born
Stephen Weaver Collins

(1947-10-01) October 1, 1947
Alma materAmherst College
OccupationActor, writer
Years active1974–2014
Spouse(s)
Marjorie Weinman
(m. 1970; div. 1978)

(m. 1985; div. 2015)

Jenny Nagel
(m. 2019)
Children1

Early life

Stephen Collins was born on October 1, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa, to mother Madeleine (née Robertson) and father Cyrus Stickney Collins, an airline executive.[3][4] Collins was raised with his two older brothers in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and attended Amherst College in Massachusetts, graduating cum laude.[5] While at Amherst, he played bass guitar in a number of bands.[6]

Career

Collins is known for his role as Eric Camden in the television drama series 7th Heaven during the series' run from 1996 to 2007[7] and for his role as Captain Willard Decker in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.[8] His other notable television credits include Jake Cutter in the cult series Tales of the Gold Monkey and his role in Tattingers, as well as guest appearances in The Waltons, Barnaby Jones, Charlie's Angels, and numerous miniseries and made-for-television movies. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work opposite Ann-Margret in the miniseries The Two Mrs. Grenvilles and he played John F. Kennedy in the miniseries A Woman Named Jackie, which won the Emmy for Best Miniseries. He also played the lead role opposite Lauren Hutton in the made-for-TV movie The Rhinemann Exchange, based on Robert Ludlum's bestselling novel.[9]

Collins has co-starred with Diane Keaton in both The First Wives Club (1996) and Because I Said So (2007). He has co-starred with Meredith Baxter in three films, All the President's Men, A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story, and Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter, both of which were made-for-television movies broadcast on CBS in 1992.

In the 2010–11 television season, Collins starred in the short-lived ABC series No Ordinary Family.[10] On ABC's Brothers & Sisters, he played a potential love interest for Ron Rifkin's character Saul Holden. Collins appeared in season eight of The Office playing Andy Bernard's father in the episode, "Garden Party".[11][12]

In 2013, Collins began appearing in the NBC series Revolution as Dr. Gene Porter, the leader of the town of Willoughby and father of Rachel Matheson (played by Elizabeth Mitchell).[13] and in two episodes of Falling Skies in season three. Collins' recent guest spots include The Fosters, Penance, and Devious Maids.[14]

Personal life

Collins was married to Marjorie Weinman from 1970 to 1978.[15][16] In 1985, he married actress Faye Grant, whom he had met on the set of Tales of the Gold Monkey in 1982.[17] Together they have a daughter, Kate, who was born in 1989. They separated in 2012, and, after 30 years of marriage, a final divorce decree was issued in January 2015.[18][19]

Collins is an Episcopalian[20] and a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation (TM) and has taken part in the advanced TM Yogic Flying technique since 1980.[21] Until October 2014, he was a national co-director of the Committee for Stress-Free Schools, which advocates practicing TM in schools and funds TM research.[22]

Following his admission of sexual misconduct, Collins moved to Iowa, where he currently lives in seclusion. In July 2019, he married Jenny Nagel, a German woman 40 years his junior.[23]

Sexual abuse allegations

In October 2014, the New York City Police Department began investigating Collins after an audio tape leaked to the media revealed a male voicepurported to be that of Collinsadmitting to past sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 14.[17] A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson stated that Collins had been investigated by the department in 2012 after receiving a claim from 40 years earlier regarding sexual abuse. The LAPD further stated that its investigation did not allow it to "substantiate the allegation" against Collins.[24][25]

In a December 2014 interview with People magazine, Collins admitted he committed "inappropriate sexual conduct with three female minors" in 1973, 1982 and 1994.[1][26]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1975 The Waltons Todd Clarke Episode: "The Abdication"
1976 Brink's: The Great Robbery Agent Donald Nash TV movie
1977 The Rhinemann Exchange David Spaulding Miniseries
3 episodes
1978 Charlie's Angels Steve Carmody Episode: "Angel Come Home"
1980 The Henderson Monster Pete Casimir TV movie
1981 Great Performances Morton Fullerton Episode: "Edith Wharton: Looking Back"
Summer Solstice Young Joshua Turner TV movie
1982 Inside the Third Reich Karl Hanke
Tales of the Gold Monkey Jake Cutter Main role (21 episodes)
1983 Chiefs Billy Lee Miniseries
3 episodes
1984 Threesome Peter Hatten TV movie
Dark Mirror Jim Eiseley
1985 The Hitchhiker Todd Fields Episode: "And If We Dream"
1986 Hold the Dream Shane O'Neil Miniseries
1987 The Two Mrs. Grenvilles Billy Grenville Jr.
1988 Weekend War Captain John Deason TV movie
Tattingers Nick Tattinger Main role (13 episodes)
1990 Working It Out David Stuart
1991 A Woman Named Jackie John F. Kennedy Miniseries
3 episodes
1992 A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story Dan Broderick TV movie
Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, The Last Chapter
1993 Remember Clee Donovan
The Disappearance of Nora Jack Fremont
1994 Scarlett Ashley Wilkes Miniseries
2 episodes
1995 A Family Divided Roger Billingsley TV movie
Sisters Gabriel 'Gabe' Sorenson Recurring role (16 episodes)
1996 On Seventh Avenue Tom Aiken TV movie
The Babysitter's Seduction Bill Bartrand
An Unexpected Family Sam
1996–2007 7th Heaven Rev. Eric Camden Main role (242 episodes) Directed 3 Episodes
1998 An Unexpected Life Sam TV movie
1999 As Time Runs Out Dan Carlin
Batman Beyond Tony Maychek/Earthmover (voice) Episode: "Earthmover"
2001 Jumping Ship Gardener TV movie
2005 Celebrity Poker Showdown Himself Qualified for the first tournament
2006–2007 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Bruce Mathis 2 episodes
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Pierson Bartlett Episode: "Trade"
Every Second Counts Joe Preston TV movie
2009–2011 Private Practice The Captain 4 episodes
2010 No Ordinary Family Dayton King Main cast (20 episodes)
Brothers & Sisters Charlie Episode: "A Righteous Kiss"
2011 The Office Walter Bernard Sr. Episode: "Garden Party"
2013 Falling Skies President Benjamin Hathaway 2 episodes
Scandal Reed Wallace Episode: "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"
The Fosters Rev. Adams Episode: "I Do"
Devious Maids Philippe Delatour 6 episodes
Revolution Gene Porter Main role; season 2 (22 episodes)
2014 Avengers Assemble Howard Stark (voice) Episode: "Thanos Rising"

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1976 All the President's Men Hugh W. Sloan Jr.
1977 Between the Lines Michael
1978 Fedora Young Barry Detweiler
1979 The Promise Michael Hillyard
Star Trek: The Motion Picture Captain/Commander Willard Decker
1980 Loving Couples Greg
1985 Brewster's Millions Warren Cox
1986 On Dangerous Ground Dr. David Lowell Alternate title: Choke Canyon
Jumpin' Jack Flash Marty Phillips
1989 The Big Picture Attorney
1990 Stella Stephen Dallas
1992 My New Gun Gerald Bender
1996 The First Wives Club Aaron Paradis
1999 Drive Me Crazy Mr. Maris
2003 The Commission Joseph A. Ball
2006 Blood Diamond Ambassador Walker
2007 Because I Said So Joe Dresden
2008 Hole in the Paper Sky Mr. Benson
2012 The Three Stooges Mr. Harter
2014 Penance Priest Short

Discography

Year Title Notes
1993 Sondheim: Putting It Together Off-Broadway cast recording
2003 Stephen Collins
2005 The Hits of Rick Nelson

Published works

  • Collins, Stephen (1994). Eye Contact. Bantam. ISBN 978-0553095852.
  • Collins, Stephen (1998). Double Exposure: A Novel. William Morrow. ISBN 978-0688158934.

References

  1. Oldenburg, Ann (December 17, 2014). "Stephen Collins: 'I did something terribly wrong'". USA Today. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  2. Wagner, Meg; Tracy, Thomas; Dillon, Nancy (October 7, 2014). "Stephen Collins, pastor-dad in '7th Heaven,' admits to sexually abusing underage girl, exposing himself to 2 others (audio)". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  3. "Stephen Collins Biography (1947–)". filmreference.com.
  4. "Cyrus S. Collins '39 – Amherst College". amherst.edu.
  5. "C | Collins, Stephen W. | Amherst College". www.amherst.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. Riordan, Paul M. (1999). "An Interview with Stephen Collins". TV Party!. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  7. "The Stephen Collins Scandal: How a Hollywood Marriage Became a Nightmare". People. October 9, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  8. Phillip, Abby (December 17, 2014). "'7th Heaven' dad Stephen Collins admits to sexually abusing three girls". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  9. Leopold, Todd (October 8, 2014). "Who is Stephen Collins?". CNN. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  10. Stanhope, Kate (June 11, 2010). "Stephen Collins Bumped to Series Regular on No Ordinary Family". TV Guide.
  11. Ausiello, Michael (August 16, 2011). "Office Scoop: Stephen Collins Is Andy's Dad!". TV Line.
  12. Nededog, Jethro (August 16, 2011). "'The Office': 'No Ordinary Family's' Stephen Collins to Guest Star". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  13. Mather, Kate; Westfall, Julie (December 17, 2014). "Actor Stephen Collins admits sexual misconduct with three girls". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  14. "Stephen Collins, former '7th Heaven' actor, under new investigation". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. October 15, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  15. "Stephen Collins: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  16. "Collins, Stephen, 1947–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  17. Effron, Lauren (December 20, 2014). "Stephen Collins Denies He's a Pedophile". ABC News. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  18. "Stephen Collins and Faye Grant Settle Divorce". People. January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  19. Moraski, Lauren (May 8, 2012). "Stephen Collins and Faye Grant split after 27 years". CBS News. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  20. "Stephen Collins content to be in '7th Heaven'". The Standard-Times. New Bedford, Massachusetts. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 24, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2001.
  21. Pool, Bob (June 14, 2003). "Seeking Site for a 'Peace Palace'". Los Angeles Times. p. B24.
  22. "Committee for Stress-Free Schools: About Us". tmeducation.org. Archived from the original on August 4, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  23. Schonter, Allison (November 7, 2019). "Disgraced '7th Heaven' Dad Stephen Collins Spotted in Iowa Amid Retreat From Public Eye". popculture.com. PopCulture.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  24. Prokupecz, Shimon; Almas, Steve (October 7, 2014). "Source: '7th Heaven' actor subject of molestation allegations". CNN. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  25. Villareal, Yvonne (October 7, 2014). "'7th Heaven' pulled after Stephen Collins molestation allegations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  26. Wagner, Meg; Tracy, Thomas; Dillon, Nancy (October 7, 2014). "Stephen Collins, pastor-dad in '7th Heaven,' admits to sexually abusing underage girl, exposing himself to 2 others (audio)". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
Preceded by
Jonathan Hadary
October 31, 2006 – June 5, 2008
Actor playing King Arthur on Spamalot
June 5, 2008 –
September 14, 2008
Succeeded by
Michael Siberry
September 16, 2008 –
January 11, 2009
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