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Stephen Collins

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For other people named Stephen Collins, see Stephen Collins (disambiguation).

Stephen Collins
Collins in 2014
Born
Stephen Weaver Collins

(1947-10-01) October 1, 1947 (age 77)
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Alma materAmherst College
OccupationActor
Years active1971–2014
Spouses
Marjorie Weinman
​
​
(m. 1970; div. 1978)​
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 2015)​
Children1

Stephen Weaver Collins (born October 1, 1947) is an American former actor. He is known for playing Eric Camden on the WB/CW television series 7th Heaven from 1996 to 2007. Afterwards, Collins played the roles of Dayton King on the ABC television series No Ordinary Family and Gene Porter in the NBC television series Revolution, father of Elizabeth Mitchell's character, Rachel Matheson. Before 7th Heaven, Collins was known for his roles as Commander Willard Decker in the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture and fighter pilot Jake Cutter in the ABC television series Tales of the Gold Monkey. In 2014, his career ended after he confessed to sexual misconduct against multiple minors.[1][2]

Early life

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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] He was also then a singing member of the Amherst College Zumbyes.

Career

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Stephen 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 (1979).[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 television films. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work opposite Ann-Margret in the miniseries The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1987), and played John F. Kennedy in the miniseries A Woman Named Jackie (1991), which won the Emmy for Best Miniseries. He also played the lead role opposite Lauren Hutton in the television film The Rhinemann Exchange (1977), based on Robert Ludlum's bestselling novel.[9]

Collins was above-the-title billed in Loving Couples (1980) with Shirley MacLaine, James Coburn and Susan Sarandon. He 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 television films 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' final guest spots include The Fosters, Devious Maids, and Penance.[14]

Personal life

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Stephen 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]

His nephew is Eve 6 frontman Max Collins.[23]

Sexual abuse against minors

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On October 7, 2014, the New York City Police Department began investigating Collins after an audio tape leaked to the media revealed a male voice, purported to be that of Collins, admitting 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 18 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, Collins admitted that he committed "inappropriate sexual conduct with three female minors" in 1973, 1982, and 1994.[1][2]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 The Michele Lee Show Dr. Steven Mayhill Television pilot
1975 The Waltons Todd Clarke Episode: "The Abdication"
1976 Brink's: The Great Robbery Agent Donald Nash Television film
1977 The Rhinemann Exchange David Spaulding Miniseries
1978 Charlie's Angels Steve Carmody Episode: "Angel Come Home"
1980 The Henderson Monster Pete Casimir Television film
1981 Great Performances Morton Fullerton Episode: "Edith Wharton: Looking Back"
Summer Solstice Young Joshua Turner Television film
1982 Inside the Third Reich Karl Hanke
Tales of the Gold Monkey Jake Cutter Main role
1983 Chiefs Billy Lee Miniseries
1984 Threesome Peter Hatten Television film
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 Television film
Tattingers Nick Tattinger Main role (13 episodes)
1990 Working It Out David Stuart
1991 A Woman Named Jackie John F. Kennedy Miniseries
1992 A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story Dan Broderick Television film
Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, The Last Chapter
1993 Remember Clee Donovan
The Disappearance of Nora Jack Fremont
1994 Scarlett Ashley Wilkes Miniseries
1995 A Family Divided Roger Billingsley Television film
Sisters Gabriel 'Gabe' Sorenson Recurring
1996 On Seventh Avenue Tom Aiken Television film
The Babysitter's Seduction Bill Bartrand
An Unexpected Family Sam
1996–2007 7th Heaven Rev. Eric Camden Main role; directed 3 episodes
1998 An Unexpected Life Sam Television film
1999 As Time Runs Out Dan Carlin
Batman Beyond Tony Maychek/Earthmover Voice, episode: "Earth Mover"[26]
2001 Jumping Ship Gardener Television film
2002 State of Grace Norris Sinclair Episode: "Sophisticated Ladies"
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 Television film
2009–2011 Private Practice The Captain 4 episodes
2010 No Ordinary Family Dayton King Main role
Brothers & Sisters Charlie Episode: "A Righteous Kiss"
2011 The Office Walter Bernard 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
2014 Avengers Assemble Howard Stark Voice, episode: "Thanos Rising"[26]

Films

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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 Plunkett
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

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

Published works

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

References

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  1. ^ a b Oldenburg, Ann (December 17, 2014). "Stephen Collins: 'I did something terribly wrong'". USA Today. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  2. ^ a b 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!". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  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. ^ a b 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 July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  23. ^ https://www.twitter.com/StephenCollins/status/375433578516992000
  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. ^ a b "Stephen Collins (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 24, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen Collins.
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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