Stephen Collins makes rare public appearance after five years

Stephen Collins, known for his role on the TV show "7th Heaven," made a rare public appearance on April 29, 2024. This was his first outing in five years. The 77-year-old actor was spotted at a grocery store in Fairfield, Iowa, where he was seen pumping gas and returning empty glass bottles. Collins gained fame as Reverend Eric Camden on "7th Heaven," which aired from 1996 to 2007. However, his reputation changed dramatically in 2014 when an audio recording surfaced. In it, Collins admitted to sexually abusing three underage girls between 1973 and 1994. Following this revelation, his marriage to Faye Grant ended, and they finalized their divorce in 2015. In a later interview, Collins described himself as a "flawed person" and discussed how he has dealt with his issues privately. He stepped away from Hollywood and acting after the scandal. A recent documentary titled "Hollywood Demons" revisits his case, but most people approached to participate declined, including Collins himself. He is currently living with Jenny Nagel, who is reportedly 40 years younger than him. The couple is said to have married in 2019 and has been seen practicing transcendental meditation together. An investigation into the allegations against Collins did not result in any charges, as the Los Angeles Police Department stated they could not substantiate the claims. If anyone needs support for sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available for help.