Actor Stephen Collins Faces Child Molestation Investigation
Actor Stephen Collins, best known as the Rev. Eric Camden, the father in the long-running family show “7th Heaven” (1996-2007), is currently under investigation for molesting underage children. TMZ published a tape on October 7th that was recorded by the 67-year old actor’s wife, Faye Grant, during a therapy session in which Collins admits to inappropriate sexual actions with a minor. A representative for the NYPD confirmed that an investigation into “inappropriate sexual contact with minors” is ongoing. A spokesman said that a formal complaint is on file, and “the incident is being investigated by the Manhattan Special Victims Squad.”
Collins’ attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told TMZ that Grant has been using the tape for some time as an extortion tool: “Over the course of my representation of Stephen in the divorce case, Faye has repeatedly threatened to give this audiotape to the media unless Stephen agreed to pay her millions of dollars more than that to which she was legally entitled,” he said. According to Kaplan, she tried to sell the tape unsuccessfully many times. He said that he is unable to address the tape itself for now, but we donner — shouldn’t she have turned the tape into the police and not TMZ? Sara Gilbert wondered on “The Talk” why the therapist didn’t report it while Sheryl Underwood applauded TMZ for “great journalism”.
Also contrary to the statement of Julie Chen on “The Talk” that there is no statute of limitations on child abuse, CNN reports that there is — at least in New York — where “a person has five years from their 18th birthday to make an accusation of sexual abuse to authorities.” Apparently, the woman who claimed to be molested at age 14 by Collins was older than 23 when she filed a report in 2012.
Nonetheless, there has already been a lot of fallout from the allegations. Collins had a small role in the upcoming sequel to the movie “Ted”. He doesn’t anymore. “7th Heaven” reruns were pulled from the schedule of UP TV and Deadline reported that a SAG-AFTRA rep said Collins resigned from its national board.
On the evening of October 7th, after hearing a loud pop at the actor’s Tarzana residence, neighbors called the police and reported that he may have committed suicide. One neighbor, former Baywatch star and Playboy model Donna D’Errico, tweeted at 8:16 pm Pacific time that the actor had shot himself: “That guy from 7th Heaven lives right around the corner from me & just shot himself a few minutes ago.” Later she followed up with: “‘That’s all I know. The police have the street cordoned off and aren’t even letting residents in..” She apologized for her unconfirmed “news” when it turned to be a false alarm. Collins was not at home at the time.
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