Editor’s note: This article has been edited to clarify the timeline of the case.
Actor Gabriel Olds, best known for his portrayal of Pat Robertson in the film, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” was arrested Wednesday on sexual assault charges, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
In July, the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office charged Olds, 52, with seven felonies, and a judge issued an arrest warrant. Investigators with LAPD’s West Bureau Division took him into custody on Wednesday in the area of Norway Lane and Norman Place in L.A.
Authorities say that on Jan. 19, 2023, a 41-year-old woman reported to police that the actor raped her at her Los Angeles home.
“Two additional adult victims later came forward and made similar reports dating back to 2013, describing consensual dating encounters that descended into violent sexual assault,” police said.
A New York native and Yale graduate, Olds has worked as an actor and screenwriter with credits dating back to the early 1990s. According to his IMDB page, he has appeared on high-profile shows like “Boardwalk Empire,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Mentalist,” “Medium,” “Numb3rs,” “Heroes,” and “SEAL Team,” among many others.
“His victims reported that he used his status as an Ivy League alumnus with success in the film industry to meet women and arrange dates,” LAPD said. “Each victim reported that Olds lured them into a false sense of security during their initial encounters, then turned violent without seeking their consent.”
Investigators added that in recent years, Olds used dating apps to meet women.
Police say they have identified three alleged victims and two more women who reported less violent sexual conduct. Due to his travels and job as an actor, authorities believe there may be other women who have not come forward.
“We heard the same story again and again,” Detective Brent Hopkins, a Special Assault Section supervisor, said “Mr. Olds started off charming but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes. Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up. Now that he’s off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard.”
Anyone with information that could lead to the identification of additional victims or witnesses is urged to contact LAPD’s Operations West Bureau, Special Assault Section Det. Hopkins at 213-473-0417 or by email at 39343@lapd.online.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
