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The explosive revelations in Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV have started a conversation. People are discussing child actors and the conditions they have faced. The documentary brought to light the things they were exposed to in the industry. The stories that have come out from a number of child stars from the ’80s, ’90s, and early aughts have been alarming. Kids were subjected to situations that were, at best, inappropriate and, at worst, utterly toxic. Kirk Cameron is the latest child actor — famous for his role in Growing Pains — to speak out about his experience.
Cameron Worked with a Now-Known Predator
Kirk Cameron said he was suspicious of nefarious industry activity, even as a child actor. In a recent interview with the Daily Wire, he noted that he remembered having questions while on the set of Growing Pains at just 14 years old.
Cameron’s personal dialogue coach on the series was Brian Peck. Peck was named as Drake Bell’s abuser among the bombshells in Quiet on Set, and has since been convicted of sexual abuse against minors. Today, he is a registered sex offender.
The evil, the darkness, the twisted sickness of Hollywood has been going on for a long time. I started acting when I was 9-years-old. I began Growing Pains‘ at 14-years-old. And I was suspicious that that stuff was going on behind the curtains even when I was working on Growing Pains.
And there were several young boys like us [Cameron and Leonardo DiCaprio] that he [Peck] interacted with on a regular basis. So, it’s shocking. It’s sickening.
Kirk Cameron, Daily Wire
Cameron was also asked about footage in the documentary that shows Peck rubbing on DiCaprio’s arm. He confirmed, “That’s the kind of thing you would see and make you pause and go, ‘There’s a little flag on the field,’ but not enough to prove something worse.”
Peck Wasn’t the Only Predator on the Growing Pains Set
Kirk Cameron also pointed out that Brian Peck wasn’t the only questionable figure involved in making Growing Pains. Showrunner Steven Marshall was convicted of distribution of child pornography in 2010.
“The consensus was these individuals were charming, they ingratiated themselves into their victims’ lives and were generally likable people when they were putting the ‘nice guy’ face on. It was like your ‘Spidey-senses’ told you something’s not right. They were handsy and physical in a smarmy kind of way. But not so overt that you could totally detect what was happening.
Kirk Cameron, Daily Wire
Interviewers noted that Cameron’s co-star Alan Thicke was among those who wrote letters in support of Peck while he was on trial. Cameron contended these people were also fooled by the predators they worked with daily.
“Nobody wants to believe that the fun, charming dialogue coach who’s ingratiated himself into the lives of others — almost to the point of being a trusted family friend — would do something so wicked and evil,” he pointed out.
Cameron also sympathized with those victims who “have scars that they will carry with them permanently throughout their life.” He shared his gratitude that his mom kept a close eye on him during his time on that set.
Thank God I got out of there unscathed in the 1980s. Those people who did this stuff to these kids are the same kind of people in the industry today — still making twisted, sick, perverted material that’s hurting children today. They need to be completely rooted out and replaced.
Kirk Cameron, Daily Wire
