Actor Stephen Collins Biography: Early Life, Career, Movies, Family & Net Worth
Stephen Collins (born October 1, 1947) is an American former actor. He is best known for his role as Eric Camden in the WB/CW television series 7th Heaven from 1996 to 2007. Collins went on to play Dayton King on the ABC television series No Ordinary Family and Gene Porter on the NBC television series Revolution, the father of Elizabeth Mitchell’s character, Rachel Matheson.
Before 7th Heaven, Collins was renowned for his roles as Commander Willard Decker in the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture and pilot Jake Cutter in the ABC television series Tales of the Gold Monkey. His career ended in 2014, after he admitted to sexually abusing many youngsters.
Actor Stephen Collins Biography
Stephen Weaver Collins was born on October 1, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa, to mother Madeleine (Robertson) and father Cyrus Stickney Collins, an airline executive.
Collins was up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with his two older brothers and graduated from Amherst College in Massachusetts with honours. He played bass guitar in several bands while attending Amherst. He was also a singer with the Amherst College Zumbyes.
Career
Stephen Collins is best known for his role as Eric Camden in the television drama series 7th Heaven, which aired from 1996 to 2007, and as Captain Willard Decker in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979).
His other significant television credits include Jake Cutter in the cult series Tales of the Gold Monkey and Tattingers, as well as cameo performances in The Waltons, Barnaby Jones, Charlie’s Angels, and a number of miniseries and television films.
He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role alongside Ann-Margret in the miniseries The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1987), and he played John F. Kennedy in the miniseries A Woman Named Jackie (1991), which won the Emmy for Best Miniseries.
He also played the lead alongside Lauren Hutton in the 1977 television picture The Rhinemann Exchange, which was based on Robert Ludlum’s best-selling novel.
Collins appeared above the title in Loving Couples (1980), alongside Shirley MacLaine, James Coburn, and Susan Sarandon. He played alongside Diane Keaton in both The First Wives Club (1996) and Because I Said So (2007). He 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, all of which aired on CBS in 1992.
In the 2010–11 television season, Collins starred in the short-lived ABC series No Ordinary Family. 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”.
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). and in two episodes of Falling Skies in season three. His final guest spots include The Fosters, Devious Maids, and Penance.
Stephen Collins Movies
- Between the Lines
- 1978: Fedora
- 1979: The Promise
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- 1980: Loving Couples
- 1985: Brewster’s Millions
- 1986: On Dangerous Ground
- 1986: Jumpin’ Jack Flash
- 1989: The Big Picture
- 1990: Stella
- 1992: My New Gun
- 1996: The First Wives Club
- 1999: Drive Me Crazy
Controversy
On October 7, 2014, the New York City Police Department launched an investigation into Collins after an audio tape was released to the public. The tape contained a male voice, believed to be Collins’, admitting to sexually abusing a youngster under the age of 14.
A representative for the Los Angeles Police police confirmed that the police investigated Collins in 2012 after receiving a report of sexual abuse.
The LAPD also indicated that their investigation did not allow them to “substantiate the allegation” against Collins. Collins admitted in a December 2014 People interview to “inappropriate sexual conduct with three female minors” in 1973, 1982, and 1994.
The atrocities were also featured in an episode of the documentary series Hollywood Demons, which premiered in 2025.
Personal Life
Stephen Collins and Marjorie Weinman were married from 1970 to 1978. He married actress Faye Grant in 1985, after meeting her on the set of Tales of the Golden Monkey in 1982. They have a daughter named Kate, who was born in 1989.
They separated in 2012, and after 30 years of marriage, a definitive divorce decision was obtained in January 2015. Since 2019, Collins has been in a relationship with Jenny Nagel, a 7th Heaven enthusiast.
Stephen Collins Net Worth
Stephen Collins’ net worth has declined as a result of the sexual misconduct scandal. Collins’ net worth was $14 million previous to the issue, but it fell to $3 million after the public learnt about his alleged misbehaviour.