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The classic WB show about a minister and his large family turns 30 this year. THR is checking in on where the cast is now.
Today’s television (and streaming) landscape is full of niche shows and shows that aren’t safe for kids, but throughout television history — and not necessarily even that long ago — there has been a strong tradition of feel-good shows that create a safe space for families to watch together and teach kids and teens how to deal with developmental challenges in a positive, responsible way.
One of these offers is Seventh heavenwhich premiered on The WB in 1996 and ran for 11 seasons. It airs alongside the network’s hottest teen shows such as Dawson Creek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Seventh heaven It was definitely more PG and focused on the daily problems of Reverend Eric Camden (Stephen Collins); his wife, Annie (Katherine Hicks); And their large brood of children.
The pilot episode alone dealt with eldest son Matt (Barry Watson) smoking, daughter Mary (Jessica Biel) wanting to be kissed, Lucy (Beverley Mitchell) expecting her first period, and Simon (David Gallagher) asking God for a dog. Meanwhile, Annie’s mother reveals that she is suffering from a terminal illness. But despite their problems, big and small, each family member had a place to go for love and support (as hinted at in the theme song): home.
On the Rewatch podcast Catching up with the Camden familyGallagher noted that the show is something the cast can still be proud of all these years later, saying, “Being that family show on a network that wanted to be cool and exciting, you know, I think now that we’ve come full circle, it’s nice to look back and feel like we did something positive on television.”
In honor of Seventh heavenIts 30th anniversary this year (it premiered on August 26, 1996), THR We checked in with the Camden family to find out what they’ve been up to in the years since we last saw them together.
Stephen Collins as Reverend Eric Camden
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Collins was already known for films such as Star Trek (1979) and First Wives Club (1996) before assuming the position of clean-cut priest and father of the Camden family. During the show’s run, he appeared in several other projects, including the Diane Keaton/Mandy Moore film Because I said so (2007).
after Seventh heaven Over, he appeared in one-off parts in shows from It’s always sunny in Philadelphia to Law & Order: SVU and The office. He also had multiple episodes Private practice and Devious maids In 2010-11 he was a regular on the short-lived series No ordinary familyWhich starred Michael Chiklis. He later played Dr. Jane Porter on the NBC hit revolution.
In 2014, Collins admitted to sexual misconduct with three underage girls between 1973 and 1994. He was not prosecuted, but was fired from his agency and has not worked in film or television since.
Katherine Hicks as Annie Camden
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Hicks, who played the Camden family matriarch, also had a notable acting career even before joining the WB show. Emmy nominated for starring role in the TV movie Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980), Hicks appeared opposite Jack Lemmon on Broadway and had film credits ranging from Star Trek IV: Journey Home (1986) to the starring role in Child’s play (1988).
While running Seventh heavenShe appeared opposite Mark Harmon in the time travel TV movie FSr all the time (2000). After that, she starred in the short-lived series I paid (2009) and he had roles in films including Jerry (2009), starring Doug Jones; stir Split second (2009); and Dorfman in love (2011), along with a series of holiday TV movies. Her most recent credit was the voice of Fairy on the Adult Swim animated series J. G. Villard’s Fairy Taleswith a cast that also includes the likes of Linda Blair, Finn Wolfhard, and Warwick Davis. The actress, who has one daughter with husband Kevin Yeager, retired from acting in 2023.
Jessica Biel as Mary
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Of all the child actors Seventh heavenBell — who played older sister Mary (although she’s a bit younger than Beverly Mitchell) — is perhaps the most successful in making the transition to A-list star (and producer to boot). While the series that first shot her to fame was still on the air, Belle starred in it The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003, followed by roles in 2004 Blade: Trinity And 2005 Elizabethtown. The placebo (2006), in which she starred opposite Edward Norton, was a highlight of the era.
In subsequent years she appeared in I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry (2007), Team A (2010) and Total recall (2012), to name a few. Most recently, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for starring in the first season of the USA Network anthology series The sinnerwhich she also executive produced for all four seasons. She was also a star producer of Hulu’s true crime miniseries sweetshe plays a Texas housewife accused of killing her neighbor with an ax. In 2025, she starred alongside Elizabeth Banks in the film The best sisteran Amazon limited series in which Belle’s character’s husband — who is also the ex-husband of Banks’ character — is killed off.
It will next appear in an Apple TV release in October 2026 Matchboxbased on the toy car brand, with John Cena. Biel has been married to Justin Timberlake since 2012, and they have two children.
Barry Watson as Matt
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Watson played the eldest son, Matt, and launched his acting career Days of our lives In 1990. He was in his early twenties when he was selected as a high school student Seventh heaven. During season six, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, forcing him to reduce his role on the show, but he returned for all but the final season.
After that, Watson starred in the ABC series What about Brian?from the bad robot. The series followed him as he turned 30 and found his way as the only remaining bachelor in his group of friends and ran for two seasons. He was also a regular Samantha who?with co-stars Christina Applegate, Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito and Melissa McCarthy. He appeared in a few episodes of each gossip girl, Hart Dixie and Masters of sexand later starred in it My father’s historyWhich was shown for one season on Up TV in 2017.
Most recently, he played Lachlan Murdoch in the 2019 Showtime miniseries Loudest voice She appeared in the TV movie Highway to heaven (2021), based on the series of the same name, as well as the CW series NaomiWhich only lasted for one season.
He has also dabbled in directing, directing two episodes of the series Seventh heaven And an episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager. He recently joined the effort to adapt the short film Na Bad ingabout a cancer survivor, to television as executive producer. Watson is also an ambassador for Teen Cancer America.
He is married to actress Natasha Gregson Wagner and has one daughter. He also has two children from a previous marriage.
Beverley Mitchell as Lucy
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Mitchell began acting before the age of 10, and by then Seventh heaven She finished her career, and had already moved on to film and starred in it He saw the second (2005) as Laura, one of the victims of the Jigsaw Killer. In the following years, she starred in a horror film The missing link (2012) and ran on ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenagerwhich was created by Seventh heaven Creator Brenda Hampton. Aside from acting, Mitchell recorded a country album in 2006.
Most recently, she co-starred with Jodie Sweetin and Christine Lakin Hollywood Darlingsa popular television series in which they played versions of themselves, followed by holiday TV movies Hometown Christmas, Christmas rock and roll and Christmas candy canes. She also appeared in the 2021 thriller film Uploaded And comedy thriller Blood pageant.
The actress who attended Loyola Marymount University while she was still in college Seventh heavenco-hosts the Rewatch Podcast Catching up with the Camden family Along with Mackenzie Rossman and David Gallagher. She has three children with her husband, Michael Cameron.
David Gallagher as Simon
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Gallagher has been a child actor and model since the age of 18 months, and had a notable early credit in the film Talking Dog Look who’s talking nowstarring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, and reunited with Travolta in phenomenon (1996). In the seventh heavenwon fans as Simon, Camden’s middle child known for his blonde hair. (These days, he has a shaved head and beard.)
He left the show in 2003 to attend college and graduated with a degree in Film and Television Studies from the University of Southern California in 2007, although he returned part-time during some of the later seasons. To cope with his absence from the series, Simon also went to film school.
Gallagher has voiced the character Rico in several films Kingdom Hearts Movies and video games. In 2007, he starred The Picture of Dorian Graya modern take on Oscar Wilde’s tale. He continued to appear on television shows including CSI: Miami, Bones, Numb 3rs, Smallville and The Vampire Diaries. He also had a minor role in the JJ Abrams film. Super 8 (2011), with his most recent television credit on a 2020 episode of Swat
Gallagher has two daughters and two co-hosts Catching up with the Camden family With Beverly Mitchell and Mackenzie Rossman.
Mackey Rosman as Ruthie
Image credit: Courtesy Everett Collection; Getty Images Mackenzie Rossman began acting in commercials at the age of four. In her role as Ruthie, the Camden family’s baby until the twins are born, viewers got the chance to see the young actress grow up. In the years since, Rossman has continued to land roles, including in Proud American (2008) a drama about white supremacy; Supernatural horror movie The crying faded away (2008); And another horror movie The grave (2009), starring Wes Bentley.
After that, she appeared in four episodes of the series The Secret Life of the American Teenager In 2013 he was in another trilogy of horror films, including a starring role in the vampire thriller Night coming. Outside of acting, she is an avid equestrian and supports the non-profit organization CureFinders in honor of her half-sister, who lived with cystic fibrosis and appeared in an episode of Seventh heaven Before her death in 2008.
Roseman now has a daughter and lives in Maryland. Co-hosted Catching up with the Camden family Podcast.
Lorenzo and Nicholas Perino as Sam and David
Image credit: Spelling Prod./Courtesy Everett Collection Lorenzo and Nicholas Perino played Camden’s youngest residents, twins Sam and David. In real life, they are not actually twins, but rather two of quadruplets. In fact, their brother Zachary and sister Mirinda both appeared in over a dozen appearances on the show when they were infants. None of the siblings continued acting after the show, with the exception of Zachary, who appeared in two episodes of the series What about Brian?which – in a moment – starred Barry Watson. Lorenzo died in 2020 at the age of 21, in a car accident in Yucaipa, California.
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