Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins
Name	Stephen Collins
Birth date	1 October 1947
Birth place	Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Alma mater	Amherst College
Occupation	Actor, author, musician
Years active	1974–2014
Spouse	Margo Kidd (1970–1978), Faye Grant (1985–2015)

Stephen Collins is an American actor, author, and musician best known for his television roles, most notably as Reverend Eric Camden on the long-running family drama 7th Heaven. His career spans four decades across stage, film, and television, including prominent roles in projects like Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the miniseries The Tales of the City. Collins's later career was significantly impacted by personal controversies that led to his retirement from acting.

Early life and education

Stephen Collins was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and spent part of his youth in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He developed an early interest in performance, participating in school theater productions. Collins pursued higher education at Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he graduated with a degree in drama. Following his undergraduate studies, he further honed his craft at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, a prestigious summer theater venue in the Berkshires.

Career

Collins began his professional acting career on the Broadway stage, making his debut in the 1974 production of The Ritz. His breakout film role came in 1979 when he portrayed Commander Willard Decker in Star Trek: The Motion Picture opposite William Shatner. Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in numerous television series and films, including a starring role in the sitcom Tattingers and a part in the acclaimed miniseries The Winds of War. His most defining role began in 1996 when he was cast as the patriarch in the WB network's 7th Heaven, a part he played for the series' entire eleven-season run. Other notable television work includes a recurring role on Revolution and appearances on shows like Scandal and Private Practice.

Personal life

Collins was married to actress Margo Kidd from 1970 until their divorce in 1978. He later married actress Faye Grant in 1985; the couple separated in 2012 and divorced in 2015. His personal life became the subject of significant media scrutiny in 2014 following the release of audio in which he discussed past inappropriate conduct. This led to his being written out of the television series Scandal and effectively ended his acting career. Collins has also worked as a novelist, publishing books such as Eye Contact and Double Exposure.

Filmography

A selected list of his acting credits includes the film All the President's Men (1976), the thriller The Promise (1979), and the comedy Brewster's Millions (1985). On television, he starred in the series Tattingers (1988-1989), had a recurring role on Revolution (2012-2014), and made guest appearances on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Good Wife. His most enduring role remains that of Reverend Eric Camden on 7th Heaven from 1996 to 2007.

Discography

In addition to acting, Collins is a musician and singer. He contributed vocals to the song "The Actor" on the 1984 album Mike + The Mechanics by the band Mike + The Mechanics. He has also performed in various Off-Broadway musical theater productions, showcasing his vocal talents in the New York theater scene.

Awards and nominations

For his role on 7th Heaven, Collins was nominated for a Family Television Award in 1999. His performance also contributed to the show winning the Favorite Television Drama award at the People's Choice Awards in 2001. While he did not receive major individual acting awards, his work on the long-running series was recognized as part of its overall success and cultural impact.

Category:American male actors Category:American male novelists Category:Amherst College alumni