Stephen Collins Played a Pedophile Priest in His Latest Movie

Penance was screened at the Catalina Film Festival just days before the actor's child molestation allegations surfaced

Well, if this isn't one of the greatest examples of life imitating art...

It turns out Stephen Collins latest role was a pedophile priest in a new short independent film that's currently hitting the festival circuit. Penance screened at the Catalina Film Festival on Sept. 27, just days before the actor became the center of an investigation by police after he allegedly confessed to molesting young girls on multiple occasions.

According to the film's website, the 11-minute Jeff Wolfe-directed indie is about "one man's journey of forgiveness. David Lyons [Safe Haven, Revolution] plays Thomas Walker, a man hounded by personal demons and inner turmoil who has lived long enough with the scars of his past. Stephen Collins [7th Heaven, Blood Diamond] is the Priest he visits to clear his conscience and discover exactly what it means to find forgiveness... or to give it."

In an audiotape recently obtained by TMZ, the 67-year-old actor is heard recalling past incidents with a therapist and his ex, actress Faye Grant, with whom he's in the midst of divorcing.

This bombshell quickly took a toll on the celeb's career.

Since the allegations surfaced, it was announced that Collins will no longer appear in the upcoming sequel to the hit 2012 comedy Ted or in the current season of Scandal. Additionally, all 7th Heaven reruns have been pulled from UP TV's schedule, and E! News recently confirmed that the actor has been dropped by his Beverly Hills-based talent agency. A rep for Agency of the Performing Arts, who has represented Collins for the past five years, told us, "We have cut ties with Mr. Collins."

He also resigned from his position on the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild.

Collins is best known for his role as Reverend Eric Camden on 7th Heaven. His TV credits also include Revolution, Devious Maids and Private Practice.