Stephen Collins target of molestation probe

• Stephen Collins stared in "7th Heaven" as the patriarch of the central family


• Collins is target of child molestation probe, police official tells CNN


• Alleged incident occurred 40 years ago, official says

(CNN) -- Stephen Collins, who starred in the television show "7th Heaven," is the target of an ongoing child molestation probe into an alleged incident 40 years ago in New York, a senior law enforcement official told CNN on Tuesday.

Following the revelation, Collins was fired from his job on the movie "Ted 2."

Earlier Tuesday, celebrity gossip website TMZ released an audio recording that purports to have been recorded during a November 2012 therapy session involving Collins and his estranged wife, Faye Grant.

CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of recording. Collins and Grant are in the middle of a contentious divorce.

TMZ reported Collins made incriminating statements in the recording. New York police have not commented on the existence of the recording and Collins' attorney and agent didn't immediately return several calls from CNN. No charges have been filed.

A spokeswoman for the New York Police Department, Kim Royster, said there is a formal criminal complaint on file that is being handled by the Manhattan Special Victims Squad.

Police in Los Angeles said the department received information two years ago regarding allegations of criminal behavior.

The case is no longer active, LAPD spokesman Andrew Neiman said.

"No crime report was ever made and there was no verified victim," he said. "We are reviewing that investigation to make certain that nothing was missed, and we are collaborating with New York to assist if we can. The case here has not been reopened. We are merely reviewing the case for accuracy."

Collins played the Rev. Eric Camden on "7th Heaven," which centered on the Camden family. It aired from 1996 to 2007.

He also appeared in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." On television he played a doctor in at least six different shows.

Recently, he has been a regular on ABC's "Private Practice" and "Revolution."

He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his supporting performance in "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles," a 1987 miniseries.

According to the Internet Movie Database, he is 67 and married Grant in 1985.

UP TV, which airs "7th Heaven" in syndication, said it was replacing the show in its lineup, beginning Tuesday evening.

CNN's Sara Sidner, Lindy Hall and Rachel Wells contributed to this report.