Stephen Collins is said to be living with a woman 40 years younger than him after his sexual misconduct involving underage girls came to light.
The scandal that forever damaged the veteran actor’s career is being revisited in Investigation Discovery’s “Hollywood Demons,” which features commentary by Dr. Drew Pinsky. It also highlights a sit-down with Oklahoma native April Price, who claimed Collins exposed himself to her three times when she was 13.
The end of the episode, viewed by Fox News Digital ahead of its airing, gives an update on the disgraced actor’s whereabouts since he disappeared from the spotlight.
‘7TH HEAVEN’ STAR STEPHEN COLLINS’ ACCUSER REVEALS ‘WORST PART’ OF HEARING HIS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CONFESSION
Stephen Collins played Rev. Eric Camden in the hit WB series “7th Heaven” from 1996 to 2007. (SPELLING TV/ALAMY)
“Stephen Collins now lives with a woman who is 40 years younger than him,” said Pinsky in the episode. “She was a superfan.”
“The age difference, given what we know about his history, does certainly raise an eyebrow,” he said. “Let’s hope he can commit to this woman and not perpetrate on others.”
Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for Collins, now 77, for comment. Fox News Digital previously reached out to former cast members of “7th Heaven” and Collins’ ex-wife, Faye Grant, for comments about “Hollywood Demons.”
Other “7th Heaven” cast members, including Jeremy London, spoke out in the episode about how they felt when they first learned about the accusations.
Stephen Collins and Faye Grant were married from 1985 to 2015. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
According to the episode, producers reached out to more than 100 associates of Collins. Nearly everyone declined to participate or didn’t respond. One producer claimed in a voice-over that only men agreed to share their experience working with “America’s TV dad.”
People magazine reported that the “superfan” living with Collins is named Jenny Nagel. In 2019, the U.K.’s Daily Mail reported that Collins and Nagel married in a small town in Iowa, his home state, where they were both residing. The outlet also claimed that the pair “share a love of transcendental meditation” and have been spotted attending daily sessions.
In 2014, it was reported there was audio of the former “7th Heaven” star purportedly confessing to engaging in sexual misconduct with underage girls, which was leaked to TMZ. The recording was made during a 2012 counseling session and given to police by the actor’s estranged wife.
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The troubling case involving Stephen Collins is being explored on Monday’s episode of “Hollywood Demons.” (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
Grant has said she gave police the audio of a 2012 couples counseling session in which Collins admitted to molesting young girls, doing so only after he refused to seek appropriate treatment. But Grant denied giving the recording to TMZ.
The recording led to re-runs of “7th Heaven” disappearing from cable TV and Collins swiftly losing acting roles. Three law enforcement agencies confirmed to The Associated Press at the time that there were investigations into the allegations.
In 2014, Collins issued a lengthy statement to People magazine admitting he had inappropriate sexual misconduct with three female minors from 1973 to 1994.
Stephen Collins was once known as a beloved TV dad. (Spelling Television/Album/ALAMY)
“Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret,” he told the outlet. “I have been working to atone for it ever since. 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 continued. “The publication of the recording has resulted in assumptions and innuendos about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred. As difficult as this is, I want people to know the truth.
“I did have an opportunity to do so with one of the women, 15 years later. I apologized, and she was extraordinarily gracious. But after I learned in the course of my treatment that my being direct about such matters could actually make things worse for them by opening old wounds, I have not approached the other two women, one of whom is now in her 50s and the other in her 30s.”
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April Price claimed Stephen Collins exposed himself to her three times when she was 13. (Courtesy of April Price)
According to “Hollywood Demons,” it’s believed that the accuser Collins apologized to was Price.
Following his statement to People magazine, he also gave a televised interview with Katie Couric in 2014. During their sit-down, he denied being a pedophile. Instead, he described himself as someone suffering from “exhibitionist urges,” “big boundary issues” and “poor impulse control.”
He characterized his actions as “terrible, and I regret them deeply,” adding, “I’m absolutely not attracted, physically or sexually attracted, to children. I’m just not.”
April Price is the only accuser speaking out in “Hollywood Demons.” (ID)
Collins also noted he’s been in treatment and religious counseling for 20 years, “and always will be.”
“I’m a human being with flaws,” he said. “I have dealt with them very, very strongly and committedly in my private life.”
Price is the only accuser who has publicly come forward. Collins has since attempted to keep a low profile.
“Stephen Collins now lives with a woman who is 40 years younger than him,” said Dr. Drew Pinsky at the end of the episode. “She was a superfan. The age difference, given what we know about his history, does certainly raise an eyebrow. Let’s hope he can commit to this woman and not perpetrate on others.” (JC Olivera/Getty Images)
Price told Fox News Digital that Collins’ sit-down with Couric made her feel “fury, like a volcano,” prompting her to speak out.
“It was something I could have very easily let go,” she told Fox News Digital. “I could have sat there and never said another word about it. And then he gave that interview to Katie Couric and downplayed it… It was infuriating… All I could do was see red.”
Price said that when the audio recordings surfaced, she reached out to the LAPD and gave a statement. It was her understanding that the statute of limitations had passed. The Los Angeles Times also reported that Collins was never prosecuted due to the statute of limitations. Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for comment.
April Price was a fan of “Tales of the Gold Monkey” when she met the show’s star, Stephen Collins, pictured here with Leo the dog. (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
In 2024, cast members of “7th Heaven” condemned their TV dad in the podcast “Catching Up with the Camdens.”
Price said she felt “sick to my stomach” revisiting her claims for “Hollywood Demons.” Still, she doesn’t regret sharing her story in hopes it will help others in similar circumstances to not feel alone.
“I’m a mother now,” Price explained to Fox News Digital. “I could push it to the side and not think about it. But as a mother, I would hope that my child would be able to come forward to me if anything happened to him that made him feel uncomfortable, victimized or endangered in any way.”
‘7TH HEAVEN’ STARS SPEAK OUT ON TV DAD STEPHEN COLLINS’ SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS 10 YEARS AFTER HIS CONFESSION
Stephen Collins didn’t appear in “Hollywood Demons” and hasn’t spoken out about the episode’s airing. ( Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
“I’m hoping that my voice will lend strength to other people, maybe in the same instances where they don’t feel as comfortable speaking about something deeply uncomfortable or unsettling in their life,” she added.
“Hollywood Demons” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/7th-heaven-star-stephen-collins-living-superfan-40-years-younger-sexual-misconduct-confession
