Share and Follow
‘7th Heaven’ was an incredibly popular series that ran from 1996 to 2007. The series followed now-disgraced actor Stephen Collins who played Reverend Eric Camden and his family including a wife and seven children. Ever since Collins’s horrific crimes were revealed, there have been a lot of questions about how the ‘7th Heaven’ cast truly felt about each other and how they feel about Collins after the allegations came to light.
‘Sorority Boys’ star Barry Watson had a lot to say when asked about Collins on Michael Rosenbaum’s “Inside of You” podcast. The star had a close relationship with Collins before his transgressions were revealed. He viewed him as a big brother figure during the time they spent working together. Watson played the character Matt Camden, Eric’s firstborn son.
What Do The Other 7th Heaven Cast Members Think About Stephen Collins?
The cast of ‘7th Heaven’ was particularly close to Collins, so the news of his misconduct must have been particularly jarring. Kyle Searles, who plays Mac on 7th Heaven, told TMZ that Collins was someone he looked up to after the allegations came to light. He said, “Stephen was by far the most likable, influential, genuine person that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. You know, he knew everybody on set, not just the actors, all by their first name. He was definitely a father figure to everybody on set. I’m sure everybody working with him could attest the same way.”
Kyle also told them how shocked he was when the news broke.
“On my way to work this morning, I listened to the audio you guys had played.It was a little shock. There was some confusion because that wasn’t who I remembered. All I can do is tell you who he was whenever I worked with him. Never once had any type of encounter where he was a little inappropriate. Nobody in the cast had ever come to me, nor was it ever an issue.”
Catherine Hicks had more mixed feelings about Collins. Initially, she said that she wanted absolutely nothing to do with Collins, but lately, she seems to have mellowed out, taking a more neutral approach.
“I have no opinion on Stephen’s culpability or not. We were surprised, but we all love each other. We really, god, worked altogether beautifully, and if they did do a reunion, I’d just be happy to show up and see everyone, Stephen included. It was never an issue on our show. It’s just sort of another chapter, I think, to his life, I think, before we started 7th Heaven. Therefore, it’s not a current issue, so being together and resuming our characters would be fine, ’cause the show is based on forgiveness, nonjudgmentalism, humility, all the values that sort of make up a particular brand of faith.”
The other members of the ‘7th Heaven’ cast, such as Jessica Biel and Mia Kunis, have remained silent about Collins.
Read Related Also: Here’s The Truth About Them Being Friends With Benefits
Barry Watson Opens Up About His Reaction To The Stephen Collins Scandal
While on the podcast, Watson was asked if it was the most shocking thing he had ever heard. The star had this to say in response. “You know, nothing shocks me, man. We were all so close, so, sure.”
Rosenbaum asked Watson if he felt hurt by what happened and he replied “Stephen’s wife put him on tape and got him to talk about some things that he did…pedophilia in years past and stuff like that…And he admitted to it. But it hurt because that was such a huge part of my life”
This isn’t the first time that Watson has spoken out about Collins’s allegations. In 2014 he went on an interview with Fox where he was asked what his initial reaction was when he found out the news about Collins alleged actions. He said that his thoughts went to the ” thousands of kids each year who are victims to any sort of abuse.”
When asked if he had spoken to Stephen after the allegations broke, the star opted not to answer.
What Happened To Stephen Collins After The Allegations?
The allegations effectively put an end to Stephen’s career. The last role he took in Hollywood was in the series ‘Avengers Assemble’ where he voiced the character Howard Stark. The former actor released a statement in 2014 after the tapes leaked where he apologized for his actions.
“I’ve decided to address these issues publicly because two months ago, various news organizations published a recording made by my then-wife, Faye Grant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January 2012. This session was recorded without the therapist’s or my knowledge or consent. On the recording, I described events that took place 20, 32 and 40 years ago.”
Collins shared an apology for one of his previous acts where he said, “It was a completely impulsive act, and it’s haunted me ever since to think of what I put her through.” He stated while he had directly apologized to one of his victims, he has not apologized to the other two because apologizing to them could bring up old trauma.
After the allegations ruined his career, Collins moved to Iowa and married a German ‘7th Heaven’ superfan.
