It feels like just yesterday we were tuning in to watch the Camden family navigate life’s ups and downs. 7th Heaven graced our screens for an impressive 11 seasons, first on The WB and later wrapping up on The CW in May 2007. The show, a drama about a minister’s family, kicked off way back in August 1996, becoming a staple for many households.
Stephen Collins played the family patriarch, Reverend Eric Camden, while Catherine Hicks brought his wife, Annie, to life. Their on-screen brood was quite a handful, with Barry Watson as Matt, Jessica Biel as Mary, Beverley Mitchell as Lucy, David Gallagher as Simon, Mackenzie Rosman as Ruthie, and the twins, Lorenzo and Nikolas Brino, playing Sam and David.
Beyond their roles, many of these actors really clicked. They formed bonds that lasted long after the cameras stopped rolling. Beverley Mitchell once shared a candid thought about Jessica Biel with Us Weekly in September 2019. Mitchell admitted, "We used to clash and she used to truly drive me crazy, and we literally wanted to fight." Funny how things change, as Mitchell now proudly calls Biel her "sister." It shows how deep those friendships grew.
Yet, not everything stayed as wholesome as the show’s image. A dark cloud fell over the show’s legacy when Stephen Collins confessed in 2014 to a deeply troubling past. He spoke with Katie Couric, admitting he had exposed himself to teenagers over the years. However, he maintained he was not a pedophile.
Despite this shocking revelation, the rest of the cast has made a clear effort to move forward together. They’ve gathered for reunions multiple times, notably in March 2024, always without Collins. It’s clear they cherish their shared history and friendship, forging ahead even when faced with difficult truths. It’s quite a journey these stars have been on since their days in the Camden household.