Few television shows defined family drama in the late 90s and early 2000s quite like 7th Heaven. The story of the wholesome Camden family, led by Reverend Eric Camden and his wife Annie, captivated audiences for 11 seasons, becoming one of The WB's longest-running and most iconic series. Today, in late 2025, the legacy of the show is a complex mix of nostalgia, major career successes for its stars, an unprecedented cast-led rewatch project, and the inescapable shadow of a devastating scandal. The most surprising news? A new reboot is officially in development, promising a fresh take on the family drama that defined a generation.
The lives of the actors who played the Camden children—Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, and Ruthie—have diverged dramatically since the series finale in 2007. From Hollywood blockbusters and prestige television to a revealing podcast and a producer role on the potential new series, the cast of 7th Heaven remains firmly in the spotlight. This is the definitive, up-to-the-minute look at what the cast is doing now, the latest on the reboot, and how they are addressing the show's controversial past.
The Camden Family: A Complete 2025 Biography and Current Status
The core cast of the series, created by Brenda Hampton, anchored 11 seasons of moralizing family life in the fictional town of Glenoak. Here is a look at the main actors and their most recent projects and updates:
- Stephen Collins (Reverend Eric Camden):
- Born: October 1, 1947
- Character: The family patriarch, a Protestant minister.
- Current Status: Largely retired from acting since 2014 after admitting to molesting minors, a scandal that irrevocably changed the perception of the show and his career.
- Catherine Hicks (Annie Camden):
- Born: August 6, 1951
- Character: The stay-at-home mother and Eric's wife.
- Current Status: Continues to act in independent films and television movies, often in Christmas-themed or family-friendly roles, maintaining a lower profile than some of her TV children.
- Barry Watson (Matt Camden):
- Born: April 23, 1974
- Character: The eldest Camden child, a doctor.
- Current Status: Remains active in television. His recent roles include a main part as Greg McDuffie in the DC Comics series Naomi (2022) and an appearance in the Hulu horror anthology Into the Dark (2020). He is also known for his work in Samantha Who?.
- Jessica Biel (Mary Camden):
- Born: March 3, 1982
- Character: The eldest daughter, a rebellious tomboy who later became a firefighter.
- Current Status: A major Hollywood presence. She is starring in and executive producing the highly anticipated Peacock limited series The Better Sister, based on the novel by Alafair Burke, which wrapped filming in mid-2024. She previously earned critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination for producing and starring in The Sinner.
- Beverley Mitchell (Lucy Camden):
- Born: January 22, 1981
- Character: The middle daughter, a dramatic and opinionated girl who becomes a minister like her father.
- Current Status: Co-host of the popular rewatch podcast Catching Up With the Camdens, alongside two of her former co-stars. She also regularly appears in holiday movies and family films.
- David Gallagher (Simon Camden):
- Born: February 9, 1985
- Character: The younger son, known for his academic aspirations.
- Current Status: Co-host of the Catching Up With the Camdens podcast and has done voice work for video games like the Kingdom Hearts series.
- Mackenzie Rosman (Ruthie Camden):
- Born: December 28, 1989
- Character: The youngest daughter.
- Current Status: Co-host of the Catching Up With the Camdens podcast, keeping the memory of the show alive for fans.
The Shocking Reboot: What We Know About The New '7th Heaven'
The biggest news for fans of the show is the official development of a reboot, a project that has been rumored for years and is now moving forward with a major studio backing it. The new incarnation of the classic family drama is reportedly in early development at CBS Studios.
The new series is expected to shift focus and feature a new, diverse cast, aiming to reflect a more modern American family, while still tackling contemporary issues with a family-centric approach.
Crucially, original star Jessica Biel is attached to the project as an executive producer. While it is unconfirmed if she would reprise her role as Mary Camden, her involvement signals a commitment to the show's legacy, albeit with a fresh creative team. Anthony Sparks, known for his work on Queen Sugar, is reportedly set to write the potential new series, indicating a strong move toward a new creative direction.
The development of a new 7th Heaven series is a bold move, given the series' controversial past, and it remains to be seen how the new show will address or distance itself from the original's history.
'Catching Up With The Camdens': The Cast's Tell-All Podcast
In a unique turn of events, three of the Camden siblings—Beverley Mitchell (Lucy), David Gallagher (Simon), and Mackenzie Rosman (Ruthie)—have launched a rewatch podcast titled Catching Up With the Camdens. This project has become the definitive source for fresh, behind-the-scenes insights into the WB drama.
The podcast allows the actors to revisit episodes, share treasured memories from their time on the show, and provide a dose of 90s nostalgia for their dedicated fanbase. They have already welcomed fellow 7th Heaven cast members, including George Stults, who played Kevin Kinkirk (Lucy’s husband).
Most significantly, the podcast has served as a platform for the actors to collectively address the sexual abuse scandal involving their former on-screen father, Stephen Collins. The actors have used their platform to denounce the actor's actions and speak out against the horrifying revelations, demonstrating a unified front and confronting the uncomfortable truth that lies at the heart of the show's legacy.
The Lingering Shadow of Stephen Collins
The biggest challenge for the cast and the potential reboot is the indelible mark left by the scandal involving Stephen Collins. In 2014, the actor, who played the beloved Reverend Eric Camden—"America's dad"—admitted to molesting minors. This revelation cast a moral shadow over a show that was built on wholesome, family-friendly values.
In 2024 and 2025, the conversation around this remains current, largely due to the podcast where Mitchell, Gallagher, and Rosman have been open about their feelings and the difficulty of reconciling the show’s positive message with the actor’s actions. Their decision to speak out is a clear attempt to separate the fictional Camden family's legacy from the criminal actions of one performer. The disgraced actor has maintained a very low public profile since the admissions.
The fact that a reboot is moving forward with a focus on a new, diverse cast and the involvement of Jessica Biel as a producer suggests a determination to reclaim the show’s narrative and offer a modern, untainted version of the family drama genre for a new generation.
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