A documentary about Stephen Collins‘ child sexual abuse scandal revealed he is currently dating 7th Heaven “superfan” Jenny Nagel who is 40 years younger than him.
Investigation Discovery’s Hollywood Demons special, which premieres Monday, March 24, features an update on where Collins, 77, is now after leaving Hollywood in disgrace.
“Stephen Collins now lives with a woman who is 40 years younger than him,” Dr. Drew Pinsky claimed in the special. “She was a super fan.”
Dr. Drew speculated on Collins’ relationship with Nagel, 37, adding, “The age difference — given what we know about his history — certainly raises an eyebrow. Let’s hope he can commit to this woman and not perpetrate on others.”
Collins did not participate in the ID special and producers reached out to “more than 100 contacts” of Collins’ and “nearly everyone declined to participate or did not respond.” (A producer in a voiceover claimed that only men agreed to speak with them about their experience with Collins.)
After his acting career came to an end, Collins was spotted on multiple occasions with Nagel, in Fairfield, Iowa, where they currently live. The couple, who the Daily Mail claimed got married in 2019, have been spotted attending twice-daily transcendental meditation sessions. The outlet also reported that Nagel posted about Collins’ hit show 7th Heaven years before they got together.
The actor became a household name after booking the role of Reverend Eric Camden on 7th Heaven, which ran from 1996 to 2007. Collins made headlines seven years after 7th Heaven ended when TMZ published an audio recording from a marriage counseling session with his then-wife, actress Faye Grant, where he admitted to sexually abusing three underage girls.
Stephen Collins Paul McCallum/Spelling Prod/Everett Collection
“I’m a flawed person,” Collins said in an interview with Katie Couric at the time. “In the church, it’s actually one of the things I love about the church … It’s really one of the main things about the Christian faith. Christ said in so many ways, ‘Bring me that … which about you is broken, bring it,’ and most people are broken in some way.”
Collins denied he was a “pedophile” before adding, “Most people get to, or have to, or choose to hide it. This came out. I didn’t choose this to come out. I didn’t want to have to deal with these things publicly. … I had dealt with them very, very strongly, and committedly, in my private life, but I think I’m a human being with flaws and I’ve done everything I can to address it.”
An investigation was launched in 2012 into the claims against Collins. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department later released a statement confirming they could not “substantiate the allegation” against Collins and no charges were brought against him.
Despite the 7th Heaven cast — including Jessica Biel and Beverley Mitchell — reuniting over the years, they haven’t been spotted with Collins. Catherine Hicks, who played his onscreen wife Annie, previously didn’t rule out a 7th Heaven reunion — under one condition.
(Back, L-R) Catherine Hicks, Stephen Collins, (middle, l to r): Beverley Mitchell, George Stults, David Gallagher. (Front, L-R) Mackenzie Rosman, Happy the Dog, Nikolas Brino, Lorenzo Brino. Kwaku Alston/Spelling Prod/Everett Collection
“We would have to open with Stephen’s coffin,” she joked to TMZ in 2016. “It’s all up to the networks and those types of things. I think we’d all love to be together. 8th Heaven with a new boyfriend for Annie.”
Creator Brenda Hampton addressed Hicks’ comments about a reunion, telling Life & Style in 2017, “I would include him. I think all the actors would like to do a reunion show. It would be really fun!”
She continued: “I think Catherine was caught off guard and said something off the top of her head. [The scandal] is so personal, [it’s] none of my business.”
Hollywood Demons premieres on Monday, March 24, on ID at 9 p.m. EST.
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