7th Heaven portrayed the most picture-perfect family on screen. The reality was far more disturbing.

While the cast of 7th Heaven portrayed the picture-perfect Camden family for 11 seasons, some of the actors' real lives have been far from wholesome off-screen.

Even the show's legacy has become complicated territory. Despite running for 11 successful seasons and capturing the hearts of family viewers all over the world, 7th Heaven now exists in an uncomfortable shadow, with streaming services and fans alike forced to reconcile their nostalgia with the troubling truth behind one of television's most beloved patriarchs.

From shocking photo scandals to disturbing criminal revelations, here's a look at the controversies that have followed the cast of this beloved family drama.

Watch a scene from 7th Heaven. Article continues after video.

Jessica Biel's rebellious photo shoot.

At just 17 years old, Jessica Biel made headlines when she posed for provocative photos in Gear magazine in 2000. The revealing shoot was reportedly a deliberate attempt to break free from her wholesome image as Mary Camden and to get released from her contract.

"You can only do so much with a particular character specifically on a show like that," Biel later explained on the Awards Chatter podcast.

Image: Getty.

"It definitely wasn't a calculated move on my part," Biel said.

"I think I was 17, I'm a woman now, I'm a grown up now. I'm sexy, ya know, this type of vibe and honestly, it just went a little awry."

The controversial move worked — her screen time was significantly reduced in seasons five and six before she eventually departed the series.

Stephen Collins' disturbing revelations.

Perhaps the most shocking controversy came in 2014 when Stephen Collins, who played pastor and family patriarch Eric Camden, confessed to sexually abusing multiple underage girls between 1973 and 1994.

The revelation came via a leaked therapy session recording where Collins admitted to the abuse. The actor later publicly acknowledged his actions in a statement to People, sending shock waves through the entertainment industry and permanently tarnishing the show's legacy.

"Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since," Collins wrote in his statement.

"On the recording, I described events that took place 20, 32 and 40 years ago. The publication of the recording has resulted in assumptions and innuendos about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred. As difficult as this is, I want people to know the truth."

Image: Getty.

He went on to explain that he was "agonised" over the decision to reach out to his victims and apologise.

"I did have an opportunity to do so with one of the women, 15 years later. I apologised and she was extraordinarily gracious," said Collins. "But after I learned in the course of my treatment that my being direct about such matters could actually make things worse for them by opening old wounds, I have not approached the other two women, one of whom is now in her 50s and the other in her 30s."

In the 2025 doco series Hollywood Demons, Collins' former co-star Jeremy London defended the disgraced actor.

"What I noticed about Stephen Collins working with young girls and extras is that I never noticed a damn thing about Stephen Collins working with young girls and extras," said London. "He never crossed any lines of any kind."

Catherine Hicks' on a 7th Heaven reboot.

When asked about a potential 7th Heaven reunion back in 2016, Catherine Hicks, who played Annie Camden, didn't mince words regarding her former co-star Stephen Collins.

Image: Getty.

"A new boyfriend for Annie," she joked.

Jeremy London's bizarre kidnapping case.

In 2010, actor Jeremy London (who played young pastor Chandler Hampton in later seasons) claimed he was kidnapped at gunpoint in Palm Springs, forced to use drugs, and held hostage for hours.

The story became even more bizarre when London's own mother and twin brother, Jason, publicly stated they believed Jeremy was lying about the kidnapping, suggesting it was related to his substance abuse issues.

"His health is our concern," Jeremy's brother, Jason, told ABCNews.com. "If this did happen to him, then I hope that there's justice. It's obviously confusing to everybody. I'm glad my brother is safe."

"He's been estranged from the family for a while," Jason said. "In the past, that's usually when there have been issues."

Image: Getty.

In a surprising twist, one of the alleged kidnappers, Brandon Adams, later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of false imprisonment and unlawfully taking London's car.

However, there were some inconsistencies between Adams' and Londons' stories.

Speaking to Radar, Adams painted the night as nothing more than a wild party.

"There was no gun. There was never a pipe," he said.

"We got drunk, and I hooked him up with some Ecstasy and Xanax and we took a joyride and partied for hours."

Feature Image: Getty.